Fed board member Waller sees stagflationary impact of tariffs -- Christopher Waller, a member of the Federal Reserve’s board of governors, painted a stagflationary picture of President Trump’s tariff agenda Monday, arguing that the hit to economic growth could be more significant than the upward pressure on prices. He said he expects the price effect of the tariffs to be “temporary” and that interest rate policy could be more responsive to output and employment effects. “While I expect the inflationary effects of higher tariffs to be temporary, their effects on output and employment could be longer-lasting and an important factor in determining the appropriate stance of monetary policy,” he said in a speech Monday to financial analysts in St. Louis. Waller said a recession could be one of the outcomes of Trump’s new tariff policies. Such an outcome would likely trigger more interest rate cuts at a quicker pace. “If the slowdown is significant and even threatens a recession, then I would expect to favor cutting the [Fed’s] policy rate sooner, and to a greater extent than I had previously thought,” Waller said. Trump’s tariff agenda has been rolled out in a stop-and-start manner, with markets enduring a period of intense volatility and forecasters changing their predictions day to day. Trump exempted some major electronics producers from Chinese tariffs over the weekend while previewing additional tariffs on semiconductors that he said would be announced sometime this week. Trump announced “reciprocal” tariffs on dozens of countries on April 2, which he termed “Liberation Day.” He then paused those for 90 days while jacking up tariffs on China to a rate of 145 percent. He also imposed a general tariff of 10 percent on imports to the U.S. China responded by increasing its tariff rate on the U.S. to 125 percent, increasing tension between the world’s two largest economies that are now stuck in a standoff. The Fed cut interest rates through the fourth quarter of last year. In January and March, the Fed paused its rate cuts after inflation ticked back up toward 3 percent and employment registered strong readings in consecutive job reports. The Trump administration’s tariffs have thrown a new variable into the Fed’s calculations about where to put interest rates. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has said the tariffs would slow progress against inflation as central bankers hope to see it move down toward a 2 percent annual increase. “Under the large tariff scenario, economic growth is likely to slow to a crawl and significantly raise the unemployment rate. I do expect inflation to rise significantly, but if inflation expectations remain well anchored, I also expect inflation to return to a more moderate level in 2026,” Waller said Monday.
Fed Chair Powell: "Higher inflation and slower growth" -- From Fed Chair Powell: Economic Outlook - Excerpt: Looking forward, the new Administration is in the process of implementing substantial policy changes in four distinct areas: trade, immigration, fiscal policy, and regulation. Those policies are still evolving, and their effects on the economy remain highly uncertain. As we learn more, we will continue to update our assessment. The level of the tariff increases announced so far is significantly larger than anticipated. The same is likely to be true of the economic effects, which will include higher inflation and slower growth. Both survey- and market-based measures of near-term inflation expectations have moved up significantly, with survey participants pointing to tariffs. Survey measures of longer-term inflation expectations, for the most part, appear to remain well anchored; market-based breakevens continue to run close to 2 percent. As we gain a better understanding of the policy changes, we will have a better sense of the implications for the economy, and hence for monetary policy. Tariffs are highly likely to generate at least a temporary rise in inflation. The inflationary effects could also be more persistent. Avoiding that outcome will depend on the size of the effects, on how long it takes for them to pass through fully to prices, and, ultimately, on keeping longer-term inflation expectations well anchored. Our obligation is to keep longer-term inflation expectations well anchored and to make certain that a one-time increase in the price level does not become an ongoing inflation problem. As we act to meet that obligation, we will balance our maximum-‑employment and price-stability mandates, keeping in mind that, without price stability, we cannot achieve the long periods of strong labor market conditions that benefit all Americans. We may find ourselves in the challenging scenario in which our dual-mandate goals are in tension. If that were to occur, we would consider how far the economy is from each goal, and the potentially different time horizons over which those respective gaps would be anticipated to close.
Philly Fed taps Chicago Fed research chief as next president- The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has hired a veteran monetary policy and financial stability specialist to be its next president and CEO. Anna Paulson, executive vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, will replace outgoing Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker.
Fed's Powell: U.S. 'less attractive' if instability persists --Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the U.S. economy could suffer lasting damage if global investors no longer view it as a safe haven. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned that actions that undermine the apparent stability of the U.S. economy could have lasting effects on its status as a global safe haven.
Top Trump economic adviser: White House is studying how to fire Jerome Powell -President Trump’s top economic adviser told reporters Friday the White House is exploring how to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell despite the legal guardrails on his position.Kevin Hassett, chair of the White House National Economic Council, backed away from his previous concerns about Powell’s firing and said the White House was looking for ways to replace the Fed chief.“The president and his team will continue to study” if Powell can be fired, Hassett told reporters at the White House.Hassett served as the chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers during Trump’s first term, during which the president frequently criticized and threatened to fire Powell.Trump’s anger with Powell reignited this week after months of the president becoming increasingly critical of the Fed chief.Trump blasted Powell in a Thursday morning social media post for refusing to cut interest rates, saying he couldn’t wait for the Fed chair’s “termination.” His criticism came a day after Powell warned that Trump’s tariffs could cause economic growth to stall while inflation increases — a dynamic known as “stagflation” — which would likely keep the Fed from being able to cut rates.The president escalated his attacks Thursday afternoon, insisting Powell would leave if he attempted to fire him. A 90-year-old Supreme Court precedent likely protects Powell from being fired by the president for anything other than misconduct or severe neglect of office. And Powell has repeatedly insisted he cannot legally be fired and would refuse to leave until the end of his term.
Trump endorses 'termination' of Powell as Fed chair - President Donald Trump stepped up his pressure campaign on the Federal Reserve, criticizing the central bank's reluctance to lower interest rates and endorsing the "termination" of Fed Chair Jerome Powell. In a post on his social media platform Thursday morning, the president criticized the Federal Reserve's reluctance to lower rates and said the chair's departure "could not come soon enough."
Yellen: Trump's tariffs cause worrisome economic uncertainty -Former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said economic uncertainty around President Trump’s whiplash tariff policies has prompted a “really very worrisome” trend for dollar-based assets.“We saw a very unusual pattern over the last couple of weeks in financial market developments,” Yellen said during a Monday morning appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “I don’t think we’re seeing dysfunction in the sense of liquidity completely drying up in the markets, but a pattern suggestive of a loss of confidence in U.S. economic policy.”“The safety of bedrock financial assets is really very worrisome,” she added. Treasures sold off sharply last week amid fears of weaker foreign demand for U.S. debt. Yellen was on the Federal Reserve board for nearly a decade and chaired the body from 2014 to February 2018 during the Obama administration before later leading the Treasury Department under then-President Biden. She said current markets would suggest investors are timid about U.S. Treasurys.“Normally, when times are chaotic and uncertainty is high, there’s a desire to invest in safe assets, and that tends to push down U.S. Treasury yields, but U.S. Treasury yields went up,” she said. “When U.S. Treasury yields go up, normally, that attracts capital inflows that would boost the dollar, but both the dollar declined and U.S. Treasury yields rose.” “What that suggests is that investors are beginning to shun dollar-based assets and calling into question the safety of what is the bedrock of the global financial system, namely U.S. Treasurys,” she added.
Strange sell-off in the dollar raises the specter of investors losing trust in the US under Trump (AP) — Among the threats tariffs pose to the U.S. economy, none may be as strange as the sell-off in the dollar. Currencies rise and fall all the time because of inflation fears, central bank moves and other factors. But economists worry that the recent drop in the dollar is so dramatic that it reflects something more ominous as President Donald Trump tries to reshape global trade: a loss of confidence in the U.S. The dollar’s dominance in cross-border trade and as a safe haven has been nurtured by administrations of both parties for decades because it helps keep U.S. borrowing costs down and allows Washington to project power abroad — enormous advantages that could possibly disappear if faith in the U.S. was damaged. “Global trust and reliance on the dollar was built up over a half century or more,” says University of California, Berkeley, economist Barry Eichengreen. “But it can be lost in the blink of an eye.” Since mid-January, the dollar has fallen 9% against a basket of currencies, a rare and steep decline, to its lowest level in three years. Many investors spooked by Trump don’t think the dollar will be pushed quickly from its position as the world’s reserve currency, instead expecting more of a slow decline. But even that is scary enough, given the benefits that would be lost. With much of world’s goods exchanged in dollars, demand for the currency has stayed strong even as the U.S. has doubled federal debt in a dozen years and does other things that would normally send investors fleeing. That has allowed the U.S. government, consumers and businesses to borrow at unnaturally low rates, which has helped speed economic growth and lift standards of living. Dollar dominance also allows the U.S. to push around other countries like Venezuela, Iran and Russia by locking them out of a currency they need to buy and sell with others. Now that “exorbitant privilege,” as economists call it, is suddenly at risk. “The safe haven properties of the dollar are being eroded,” said Deutsche Bank in a note to clients earlier this month warning of a “confidence crisis.” Added a more circumspect report by Capital Economics, “It is no longer hyperbole to say that the dollar’s reserve status and broader dominant role is at least somewhat in question.” Traditionally, the dollar would strengthen as tariffs sink demand for foreign products. But the dollar not only failed to strengthen this time, it fell, puzzling economists and hurting consumers. The dollar lost more than 5% against the euro and pound, and 6% against the yen since early April. As any American traveler abroad knows, you can buy more with a stronger dollar and less with a weaker one. Now the price of French wine and South Korean electronics and a host of other imports could cost more not only due to tariffs but a weaker currency, too. And any loss of safe-haven status could hit U.S. consumers in another way: Higher rates for mortgages and car financing deals as lenders demand more interest for the added risk. More worrisome is possible higher interest rates on the ballooning U.S. federal debt, which is already at a risky 120% of U.S. annual economic output. “Most countries with that debt to GDP would cause a major crisis and the only reason we get away with it is that the world needs dollars to trade with,” says Benn Steil, an economist at the Council on Foreign Relations. ”At some point people are going to look seriously at alternatives to the dollar. ” They already have, with a little help from a U.S. economic rival. China has been striking yuan-only trading deals with Brazil for agricultural products, Russia for oil and South Korea for other goods for years. It has also been making loans in yuan to central banks desperate for cash in Argentina, Pakistan and other countries, replacing the dollar as the emergency funder of last resort. Another possible U.S. alternative in future years if their market grows: cryptocurrencies. Said BlackRock Chairman Larry Fink in his annual shareholder letter about dollar dominance, ”If deficits keep ballooning, America risks losing that position to digital assets like Bitcoin.” Not everyone is convinced that a big reason the dollar is falling is because of lost faith in the U.S. Steve Ricchiuto, an economist at Mizuho Financial, says dollar weakness reflects anticipation of higher inflation due to tariffs. But even if investors aren’t as comfortable holding dollars, he says, they really don’t have much of a choice. No other currency or other asset, like yuan or bitcoin or gold, is vast enough to handle all the demand. “The U.S. will lose the reserve currency when there is someone out there to take it away,” Ricchiuto says. “Right now there isn’t an alternative.”
No more Trump 'tailwind': Goldman now sees recession risk -- What a difference one quarter can make. Just three months after hailing a positive "sentiment shift" following last November's election, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon lamented President Trump's trade war and said "the prospect of a recession has increased."
Neel Kashkari: Fast resolution with countries over tariffs will ease recession fear -Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, said a fast resolution between the Trump administration and countries with tariffs will help ease the fear of a recession. Kashkari joined CBS News’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday, where he was asked about the increasing odds of a recession after the administration slapped “reciprocal” tariffs on allies and adversaries alike.“JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said the odds of a recession are to 50-50, Goldman Sachs says 45 percent chance of recession, is the risk that high in your estimate?” host Margaret Brennan asked.“It’s really going to be determined by, are there quick resolutions?” Kashkari replied. “Are there quick resolutions to these trade uncertainties with our major trading partners?”“The faster those resolutions come, I think more … confidence can be restored and hopefully those odds can be brought down,” he continued.Still, Kashkari warned it’s a “serious situation” that he said was volatile.The uncertainty comes just days after Trump walked back most tariffs on various countries, leveling it out at 10 percent per country. China, however, was increased to a 125 percent tariff on its goods, and it retaliated with its own increase on U.S. goods.The situation has plunged the U.S. into a trade war as countries look to strike a deal with the Trump administration over exemptions to tariffs.Kashkari warned that if businesses and consumers get nervous and pull back, it could lead to economic downturn, regardless of the tariffs.“There’s a lot to try to unwrap right now, and we’re doing our best to try to keep our arms around it,” he said.
PCE Inflation expected to be Soft in March --The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index for March will be released on April 30th. The data released so far suggests the PCE inflation will be soft in March. From Goldman Sachs economists: The producer price index (PPI), the PPI excluding food and energy, and the PPI excluding food, energy, and trade were all below consensus expectations in March. The components relevant for core PCE were soft. Based on the details in the PPI and CPI reports, we estimate that the core PCE price index rose 0.08% in March (vs. our expectation of 0.13% before today's PPI report), corresponding to a year-over-year rate of +2.52%.And from BofA: [W]e are tracking core PCE to rise by 0.1% m/m (0.08% unrounded) in March. This would be a notable deceleration from the first two months of the year. However, February is likely to be revised up significantly to 0.5% m/m due to a very large upward revision to portfolio management. As a result, we expect y/y core PCE to fall to 2.6% from an upwardly revised 2.9%.This is further improvement progress on inflation. If policy had remained unchanged, we'd probably be celebrating a "soft landing". However, the tariffs will likely impact prices in May (the data will be released in June).
Stellar 20Y Auction Stops Through, Benefits From Solid Foreign Demand -After last week's basis trade collapse (which we now know has already claimed several relative value multistrat hedge funds), many were dreading the outcome of today's 20Y auction, a reopening of 19-Year, 10-Month cusip UJ5. It turned out they have nothing to fear. The $13BN auction priced at 1:01pm ET at a high yield of 4.810%, up sharply from last month's 4.632% and the highest since February; more importantly it stopped through the When Issued 4.814% by 0.4bps, the second consecutive stop through (if fractionally weaker than last month) and 3rd in the past 4 months. It wasn't just the headline: the Bid to Cover was 2.63, which while down from last month's 2.78 was comfortably above the six-auction average of 2.57. But like last week, the internals were most closely watched because in a time when there was virtually no Direct demand for US paper (amid the basis trade unwind), the composition of today's takedown distribution was sure to be a buzz if there were any outliers. In the end, there would be no buzz because there were no surprises: Indirects took down a decent 70.7%, the highest since August and naturally above the six-auction average; As for Directs, unlike last week's collapse, today they took down a healty 12.3% - yes still the lowest since November, but hardly a single digit affair like we saw last week. Finally Dealers were left holding 17.0%, just fractionally above the 15.3% average, and in line with recent auctions.
Trump’s spending cuts - The White House is planning to ask Congress to approve more than $9 billion in funding cuts to a list of agencies President Trump has sought to eliminate. That includes money for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which oversees PBS and NPR, money for USAID and agencies like the U.S. Institute of Peace, which Trump aimed to dismantle via an executive order signed in February. The request cites various aspects of funding used by those organizations that do not align with the Trump administration’s priorities. It cites a PBS program from 2022 titled “Our League” about a transgender woman who comes out to members of their bowling league in Ohio. It also cites numerous examples of funding from the State Department and USAID to be cut that are not in line with Trump’s agenda. Among those are $500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda, $750,000 for reducing xenophobia in Venezuela, and $3 million for a children’s developmental television program in Iraq. A White House official confirmed to The Hill that the package will be sent to Congress when lawmakers return from Easter recess. Simple majorities in both the House and Senate would need to vote to approve the rescission package in order to eliminate the congressionally approved funding. Republicans control both chambers, though their margin in the House is especially narrow.
Johnson 'Not A Big Fan' Of Raising Taxes For Wealthy, Supports Tax Cuts For Everyone --House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said that he likely will not support a measure to hike taxes on wealthy Americans, saying he and his party prefer tax reduction across the board. Johnson was asked Sunday by Fox News host Maria Bartiromo about reports that Republicans may increase taxes on the wealthiest 40 percent to pay for certain initiatives backed by President Donald Trump, including his promise not to tax tips or Social Security payments. “I’m not a big fan of doing that,” Johnson responded in the interview. “We’re the Republican Party and we’re for tax reduction for everyone. So, I mean, that’s a general principle that we always try to abide by. There’s lots of discussion. There’s lots of ideas on the Hill.” He added in the Sunday morning interview that “I would say just stay tuned.” “The next five to six weeks are going to be critical as all these negotiations happen in the committees of jurisdiction. You‘ll hear lots of rumors and lots of talk, but we’ll see where it all lands.” Johnson added that he wanted to pass the measure by Memorial Day, which is May 26, because of the U.S. government’s debt obligations. Meanwhile, several top Republicans in Congress appeared to pour cold water on raising taxes for the wealthy.
Trump blames Zelensky for Ukraine war after ’60 Minutes’ interview--President Trump on Monday sought to distance himself from the war between Russia and Ukraine as his promise to end the conflict quickly has proven difficult to accomplish. “The War between Russia and Ukraine is Biden’s war, not mine. I just got here, and for four years during my term, had no problem in preventing it from happening,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “[Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin, and everyone else, respected your President!” Trump also blamed President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for “allowing this travesty to begin.” “There were so many ways of preventing it from ever starting. But that is the past. Now we have to get it to STOP, AND FAST,” Trump added. In comments to reporters in the Oval Office late Monday morning, Trump added Putin to the list of those at fault. Trump preparing for war with Iran?! B2s sent to Middle East, Americans in the dark: Ken Klippenstein “Biden could have stopped it, and Zelenskyy could have stopped it, and Putin should have never started it,” Trump told reporters. “Everybody’s to blame.” Trump’s post on Truth Social came after Zelensky appeared on “60 Minutes” Sunday night. Zelensky pushed back on some of the Trump administration’s assertions about the conflict, and he urged Trump to come visit war-torn Ukraine before making any final decisions. Trump’s post on Truth Social came after Zelensky appeared on “60 Minutes” Sunday night. Zelensky pushed back on some of the Trump administration’s assertions about the conflict, and he urged Trump to come visit war-torn Ukraine before making any final decisions.
Vance on Zelensky criticism: ‘Sort of absurd’ and ‘certainly not productive’ - Vice President Vance said in a new interview that it’s “sort of absurd” and counterproductive for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to suggest the U.S. government is on Russia’s side in its war against Ukraine. “I think it’s sort of absurd for Zelensky to tell the [American] government, which is currently keeping his entire government and war effort together, that we are somehow on the side of the Russians,” Vance told British news outlet UnHerd in an interview published Tuesday. Vance said that kind of language “is certainly not productive.” The interview, which was conducted by phone Monday, comes after Zelensky said in a recent “60 Minutes” interview this weekend that Vance seems to be “somehow justifying [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s actions,” referring to their contentious debate in the Oval Office earlier this year. “It’s a shift in tone, a shift in reality, really yes, a shift in reality, and I don’t want to engage in the altered reality that is being presented to me,” Zelensky said in the interview, pointing to administration officials’ suggestion that both sides in the conflict were at fault. Vance, in the new interview, pushed back against Zelensky’s criticism, saying he has condemned Russia’s actions since 2022, according to the British news outlet. “I’ve also tried to apply strategic recognition that if you want to end the conflict, you have to try to understand where both the Russians and the Ukrainians see their strategic objectives,” Vance added.
US, Ukraine Sign 'Memorandum of Intent' To Move Forward on Minerals Deal - A Ukrainian official announced on Thursday that the US and Ukraine had signed a “memorandum of intent” to move forward with an economic deal that would give the US a piece of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and other natural resources.“We are happy to announce the signing, with our American partners, of a Memorandum of Intent, which paves the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the establishment of the Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine,” Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister and economy minister, wrote on X. The exact details of the deal are unclear, but it’s expected to give US companies access to Ukraine’s natural resources and involve them in the country’s reconstruction. President Trump said on Thursday that the US and Ukraine are expected to sign the final deal next week. He has previously suggested that the agreement would ensure the US continues providing military aid to Ukraine.
Ukraine says pact signed with US is first step towards minerals deal (Reuters) - Ukraine said on Thursday Kyiv and Washington had signed a memorandum as an initial step towards clinching an agreement on developing mineral resources in Ukraine, a deal promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump. Although both had been poised in February to sign a deal for cooperation on natural resources, it was delayed after an Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy turned into a shouting match. "We are happy to announce the signing with our American partners," Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's first deputy prime minister and economy minister, said on social media after the signing. Thursday's memorandum of intent paves the way for an economic partnership deal and the setting-up of an investment fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine, she added. The signing comes after officials in Kyiv worked to repair ties following the Oval Office episode, recognising that Ukraine needs U.S. support in its war with Russia, which mounted a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The minerals deal is part of that effort, officials in Ukraine have said. Trump said the accord itself could be signed next week, though the Ukrainian side gave no indication of when it expected to conclude the full deal. A Ukrainian delegation traveled to Washington at the end of last week for talks after the United States offered a new, more expansive deal. An initial framework pact was agreed, but has never been signed. "We have a minerals deal, which I guess is going to be signed on Thursday," Trump told reporters at the White House earlier. He has pushed for a compact that gives the United States privileged access to Ukraine's natural resources and critical minerals in what he casts as repayment for military aid provided under former President Joe Biden. "We're still working on the details," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, seated beside Trump in the Oval Office, adding that the signing could come by next Friday. "It's substantially what we'd agreed on previously," he said. "When the president was here, we had a memorandum of understanding. We went straight to the big deal, and I think it's an 80-page agreement and that's what we'll be signing." The White House did not respond to a request for further details on the timing and contents of the agreement. Zelenskiy had said both sides could sign the memorandum online. "This is a memorandum of intent. And we have positive, constructive intentions," he told reporters in Kyiv, adding that the U.S. side had made the offer to sign the memorandum before the comprehensive deal, which would require ratification by Ukraine's parliament.
U.S. Will Ditch Ukraine Peace Talks If Progress Isn’t Made Soon - The United States will abandon efforts to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement if progress isn’t made very soon and unless clear signs emerge that a deal can be reached, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.“We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end. So we need to determine very quickly now, and I'm talking about a matter of days whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks,” Secretary Rubio said.Rubio held meetings in Paris with European and Ukrainian leaders to discuss the war in Ukraine.“The president feels very strongly about that. He has dedicated a lot of time and energy to this ... this is important, but there are a lot of other really important things going on that deserve just as much, if not more attention,” the top U.S. diplomat said.President Donald Trump has vowed to put a quick end to the war in Ukraine, and his diplomats have engaged with both Ukraine and Russia to negotiate a peace agreement.However, progress has stalled, and the U.S. now signals that it could ditch peace talk efforts.The U.S. and Ukraine have made progress toward a minerals deal this week.On Thursday, the two countries signed a memorandum of intent, aiming to finalize talks on a mineral resource partnership and a reconstruction fund.“We are happy to announce the signing, with our American partners, of a Memorandum of Intent, which paves the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the establishment of the Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine,” Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister, wrote on X. Ukraine said that the aim of the memorandum is to complete negotiations on the final deal by April 26, and to sign a finalized agreement soon after.
Russia-Ukraine talks at pivotal moment: Donald Trump considering pulling US out - U.S. efforts to mediate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are reaching a pivotal moment, with President Trump saying both sides need to quickly show progress or his administration will exit the negotiations. Trump, in remarks from the White House, didn’t lay out a specific timeline for a U.S. exit but said it could happen quickly. “If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say you’re foolish, you’re fools, you’re horrible people and we’re going to just take a pass,” Trump said. It’s not clear exactly what that would mean, though it would seem to risk U.S. support for Ukraine. “I’m not going to say that, because I think we’re going to get it done,” Trump said, referring to reaching a peace deal. On the campaign trail, he vowed to strike such a deal in his first 24 hours in office. Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier Friday signaled a possible U.S. exit, and suggested that Ukrainian and Russian officials have about a week to huddle in their capitals and respond to a U.S. peace proposal — the details of which are not public. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said another round of talks between the Americans, Europeans and Ukrainians would take place in London next week. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for recognition of Russian sovereignty over five territories in Ukraine that his country only partially controls and repeated that it wants to address the “root causes” of the war. Ukraine has rejected those terms while signaling a willingness to freeze the line of combat. Rubio conceded Ukraine does need assurances that it could defend itself going forward if Russia renewed its aggression after a peace deal was signed. “Ukraine — in order for there to be peace, we recognize that Ukraine has to feel like it has the ability to defend itself from a future attack from anyone. … But we’re not working yet on that level of specifics,” Rubio said.
Rubio: US To Decide Within Days If Ukraine Peace Deal Is Possible - - Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that President Donald Trump will decide if ending the war in Ukraine is possible sometime in the coming days.“We’re not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end. So we need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks,” Rubio told reporters in Paris.President Trump made ending the war in Ukraine one of his top campaign promises. Since taking office in January, his staff has engaged in several rounds of high-level talks with Russian and Ukrainian officials.“The president feels very strongly about that. He has dedicated a lot of time and energy to this… this is important, but there are a lot of other really important things going on that deserve just as much, if not more attention,” Rubio said.Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who is leading the American negotiations, told Fox News host Sean Hannity that talks with Russia were progressing well. In an interview that aired Monday, he explained, “This is the third meeting I’ve had with [Putin]. This last meeting lasted close to five hours. It was a compelling meeting, and towards the end, we actually came up with a path to a permanent peace.”However, Trump and Rubio have stated that Russia is not engaging quickly enough in the diplomatic process. The president and secretary of state have both threatened new sanctions on Russia in recent weeks if the Kremlin does not agree to a deal to end the conflict very soon.Moscow appears to be unwilling to accelerate the pace of talks on ending the war in Ukraine. Earlier this week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the issue was “so complex that it’s unrealistic to expect immediate results.”Following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, US-Russian relations sank to a historic low point, with almost no contact between Washington and Russia during that period. Early rounds of talks between US and Russian officials focused on returning to a normal diplomatic relationship.While Trump and Rubio have placed blame on Moscow for the lack of progress towards a peace deal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly declared that Kiev would not surrender any territory to bring the war to an end.Additionally, Kiev is moving closer to signing a deal to allow Washington to recapture some of the money spent on Ukraine aid by seizing profits from sales of oil, gas and rare earth minerals. A top Ukrainian official said a memorandum of intent was signed on Thursday, and the deal is expected to be inked next week.
Trump on Russia-Ukraine talks: 'Nobody’s playing me' -- President Trump on Friday was adamant he was not being “played” in talks to end the war in Ukraine and sounded a confident note he would be able to close the deal after Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated the clock was ticking on negotiations. “We’re going to get it stopped, ideally. Now, if for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say ‘you’re foolish, you’re fools, you’re horrible people and we’re just going to take a pass.’ But hopefully we won’t have to do that,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “I think we have a good chance of solving the problem, however,” Trump added. Asked if Russian President Vladimir Putin was stalling, as many skeptics have argued, Trump said he hoped not. Trump also brushed back a question about whether he was being played by Russia. “No, nobody’s playing me. I’m trying to help,” Trump said. “Nobody’s playing anybody. We are going to see if we can get it done,” he added. “I think we have a really good chance of getting it done. And it’s coming to a head right now.” Trump would not say whether he would continue to provide support to Ukraine if ceasefire talks failed.
Vladimir Putin announces 'Easter truce' amid Russia-Ukraine war --Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for an “Eastern truce” with Ukraine, directing the Kremlin’s military to temporarily pause fighting until Sunday night. Putin announced the brief ceasefire on Saturday during a meeting with the chief of the general staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov. The Russian president said, “guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to 00:00 from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce. I order that all military actions be stopped for this period.” “We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions,” Putin said on Saturday. Shortly after Putin’s remarks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Russian president of playing with “human lives” and added that the Kremlin’s drones were still flying in Kyiv’s airspace. “At this moment, air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine. At 17:15, Russian attack drones were detected in our skies. Ukrainian air defense and aviation have already begun working to protect us,” Zelensky wrote in a Saturday post on social media platform X. “Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putin’s true attitude toward Easter and toward human life.” The air alert in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv stopped at 6 p.m. local time, Agence France-Presse reported.
US and Iran To Hold More Negotiations After 'Constructive' First Round - The US and Iran are set to hold another round of negotiations on Saturday, April 19, after indirect talks held over the weekend appeared to go well.Following the negotiations in Oman, both the US and Iran described the engagement as “constructive.” The US side was led by President Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the Iranian delegation was headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.The negotiations lasted about two and a half hours and were mostly held indirectly, with Omani mediators passing messages between each delegation. However, at the end of the talks, Witkoff and Araghchi spoke directly for just a few minutes.“The discussions were very positive and constructive, and the United States deeply thanks the Sultanate of Oman for its support of this initiative,” the White House said in a statement after the negotiations.The White House said that Witkoff’s “direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome.”According to Axios, the next round of talks will be held in Rome, and the US and Iranian delegations could hold negotiations in the same room with Omani mediators present.Aragchi said in a post on X that the talks were “constructive and promising” and conducted “in an atmosphere of mutual respect.” He added that “both sides decided to continue the process in a matter of days.”The fact that there appears to be progress signals that the US is focusing on seeking a commitment from Iran not to weaponize its nuclear program, a pledge Tehran has said it has stuck to and is willing to reaffirm.Just a few weeks before the negotiations, US intelligence agencies said in their annual threat assessment that there’s no evidence Iran is building a nuclear weapon. Despite that conclusion, President Trump has been threatening to bomb Iran if a deal isn’t reached.Iran hawks in the US and Israel have been demanding a deal that would involve the complete dismantlement of Iran’s civilian nuclear program, which is a non-starter for negotiations with Tehran. Iran has also rejected the idea of a deal that would place limits on Iran’s ballistic missiles and support for its allies in the region. Trita Parsi, an Iran expert and Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute, has said a narrow deal focused on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief from the US has a real chance of success.
Trump Suggests Iran Slow-Walking Talks, Repeats Threat of Military Action - President Trump on Monday suggested that Iran was slow-walking talks with the US and repeated his threat of military action if a deal on Tehran’s nuclear program isn’t reached.The US and Iran held indirect negotiations in Oman over the weekend and are set to hold another round in Rome this coming Saturday. “Iran wants to deal with us, but they don’t know how. They really don’t know how. We had a meeting with them on Saturday. We have another meeting scheduled next Saturday, I said, ‘that’s a long time,’ so I think they might be tapping us along,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office while meeting with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele.Trump said that Iran has to “get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon, they cannot have a nuclear weapon.” Iran has made clear that it’s willing toreaffirm its pledge that it doesn’t seek nuclear weapons, and US intelligence agencies recently said in their annual threat assessment there’s no evidence that Tehran is building a nuclear bomb or that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reversed his 2003 fatwah that banned the production of weapons of mass destruction.Despite the conclusion from US intelligence agencies, Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran if a deal isn’t reached on its nuclear program. “If we have to do something very harsh, we’ll do it,” he said. “And I’m not doing it for us. I’m doing it for the world. These are radicalized people, and they cannot have a nuclear weapon.” When asked if the options include a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the president said, “Of course.”
The crux of negotiations: Are Iran’s ballistic missiles more dangerous than its nuclear programme? – Middle East Monitor - What do Washington and Tehran want in the negotiations? Trump wants to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon. Tehran wants the negotiations to be limited to discussing the nuclear issue alone, but it is clear from the statements of the US President and his aides that Washington seeks to expand the scope of the negotiations to include, in addition to the nuclear issue, Iran’s policy in the region, particularly its support for the Houthis in Yemen and its programme to build and develop long-range ballistic missiles. While Tel Aviv deliberately ignores the danger of the ballistic missiles it suffered during Iran’s response to its recent aggression, its strategic experts realise that the crux of the negotiations is Iran’s programme to build and develop ballistic missiles, which are more dangerous to Israel (and perhaps to the US, as well) than its nuclear programme. Tehran’s (presumed) success in developing a nuclear bomb would not prompt it to use it in war for three significant reasons: First, because Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued a fatwa prohibiting its manufacture or use, as the extreme deadliness and indiscriminate destruction it would cause are morally and religiously prohibited. Arabs, both Muslims and Christians, who live in the Zionist entity that has existed since 1948, as well as in the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, would certainly suffer enormous human and physical damage if nuclear weapons were used. Second, because the use of nuclear weapons would cause immense harm and damage to both warring parties using them, greatly limiting its legitimacy and effectiveness. Third, because the US is far more powerful when it comes to nuclear weapons than Iran, and it would cause Iran immeasurable damage compared to the US. What further need or benefit would there be for using this deadly weapon? Compared to nuclear weapons, long-range ballistic missiles appear to be more effective, more destructive, and even more dangerous to Israel than nuclear weapons. Why? Because the occupying entity also will not use nuclear weapons for the reasons mentioned above. Furthermore, it is inconceivable that the US would use them on its behalf, knowing that Iran could use its ballistic missiles to retaliate forcefully, causing massive human and material damage to all US military bases in West Asia, not to mention the devastating damage that would be inflicted on the Zionist entity itself. Despite the positive impressions expressed by both the Iranian and American sides after their first meeting last Saturday to determine the course of negotiations, most observers in Tehran, Tel Aviv and Washington tend to doubt the success of the ongoing negotiations in Oman. They believe they will be prolonged for several reasons, not least of which is the growing negative reactions to the tariff war launched by Trump against most exporting countries, and his need to contain the reactions in order to reduce its negative repercussions on the US and the rest of the world. However, another group of observers have not ruled out the possibility of Washington and Tehran possibly reaching a compromise involving freezing the Iranian nuclear programme, particularly its high-percentage enrichment of uranium, necessary for the manufacture of nuclear bombs. This would satisfy Iran, as this compromise would keep its peaceful nuclear programme unrestricted, which is its primary concern. It also would not affect its right to develop its long-range ballistic missile programme and would lift the unjust US economic sanctions imposed on it. This compromise would also satisfy the US, as its main concern is that Iran never possesses nuclear weapons, by Iran accepting strict monitoring and control mechanisms. It would also allow it to attract Iranian investment in the US economy. As for Israel, whose primary concern is dismantling the entire Iranian nuclear infrastructure, this compromise would leave it empty-handed. A question remains for the future: What if the US-Iranian negotiations in Oman fail, and what repercussions will it have on the Arab-Israeli conflict?
Iran's Khamenei Says Talks With US Went 'Well' But May Lead Nowhere - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tuesday that Tehran’s negotiations with the US were off to a good start but warned they might not go anywhere, stressing his lack of trust in the US. According to Iran’s PressTV, Khamenei said the negotiations held in Oman over the weekend were “implemented well in their initial steps” but added that Tehran is “very skeptical” of the US side.“The negotiations may or may not yield results. We are neither too optimistic nor too pessimistic about them. Of course, we are very skeptical of the other party, but confident in our own capabilities,” he said.Khamenei said that Iran would continue to work to offset the impact of sanctions. “The removal of the sanctions is not in our hands, but neutralizing them is; there are many ways and [there is] great domestic capacity to do that. If this objective is achieved, the country will become impervious to sanctions,” he said. While he offered a mixed reaction, Khamenei’s comments made clear that he supports the government of Masoud Pezeshkian to continue the negotiations, which were mostly held indirectly, although Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Steve Witkoff spoke to each other briefly.Another round of negotiations is set to be held this Saturday. Some reports say they will be held in Rome, while Iran insists they will be held again in Oman.President Trump has continued to threaten military action if a deal isn’t reached on Iran’s nuclear program even though US intelligence agencies recently said in their annual threat assessment that there’s no evidence that Tehran is building a nuclear bomb or that Khamenei has reversed his 2003 fatwah that banned the production of weapons of mass destruction.
Trump envoy backtracks on remarks limiting Iran’s nuclear program--Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s point person on talks with Iran, clarified earlier remarks on Tuesday saying the White House could tolerate Iran having a civilian nuclear program, saying it wants Tehran to eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weapons program. “Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East — meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program,” Witkoff wrote on the social media site X. “It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do.” Witkoff’s remarks came after he appeared Monday night on FOX News Channel’s “Hannity” where he said the U.S. would not tolerate Iran enriching uranium beyond 3.67 percent – triggering backlash from Iran hawks that the Trump administration was reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Obama-era nuclear deal that Trump exited in 2018. Witkoff participated in talks with Iranian officials in Oman on Saturday, the first major engagement between the Trump administration and Tehran over whether a deal could be reached that would see the U.S. trade sanctions relief on Iran over dismantling its nuclear weapons program.
Witkoff Says Iran Must 'Eliminate Its Nuclear Enrichment' Program - Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s Middle East envoy, said in a statement on Tuesday that Iran must “eliminate its nuclear enrichment” program, suggesting the Trump administration is hardening its position in negotiations with Tehran.Witkoff made the comments a day after appearing on Fox News and suggesting that the US wanted Iran to reduce its levels of nuclear enrichment to 3.67%, the enrichment level under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, which President Trump withdrew from in 2018. Iran currently enriches some uranium at 20% and 60%, still below the 90% needed for weapons-grade.Witkoff’s comments on Fox signaled that the US was not demanding the full dismantlement of Iran’s civilian nuclear program, which is believed to be a non-starter for Tehran. After strong backlash from Iran hawks, Witkoff appeared to reverse his stance in the statement he released on Tuesday.“A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal. Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East — meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program,” Witkoff said in a statement released by his office.“It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do,” Witkoff added.Witkoff participated in the indirect negotiations between the US and Iran this past weekend and briefly spoke directly with the leader of the Iranian delegation, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. While both sides said the talks went well, and another round is scheduled for this Saturday, President Trump suggested on Monday that Iran was “tapping” the US and repeated his threat of military action if a deal isn’t reached. Trump has been threatening to bomb Iran over its nuclear program even though US intelligence agencies recently said in their annual threat assessment that there’s no evidence that Tehran is building a nuclear bomb or that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reversed his 2003 fatwah that banned the production of weapons of mass destruction. Aragchi has also made clear that Iran is willing to reaffirm its pledge that it doesn’t seek nuclear weapons and allay any concerns the US may have when it comes to weaponization.
Iran Warns US Against 'Moving the Goalposts' After Witkoff Statement on Enrichment - Iran on Wednesday warned the US against “moving the goalposts” after US envoy Steve Witkoff suggested the Trump administration was seeking a deal to eliminate Tehran’s civilian nuclear program. Witkoff said in a statement on Tuesday that any deal must “eliminate its nuclear enrichment” program. The statement came after he suggested the US would be happy with a deal that limited Iran’s nuclear enrichment to 3.67%, which drew backlash from Iran hawks. “Moving the goalposts constitutes a professional foul and an unfair act in football. In diplomacy, any such shifting (pushed by hawks who fail to grasp the logic/art of commonsensical deal-making) could simply risk any overtures falling apart,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on X. “It could be perceived as lack of seriousness, let alone good faith. We’re still in testing mode,” Baghaei added. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also responded to Witkoff’s comments, saying Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was non-negotiable. “Iran’s enrichment is a real, accepted matter. We are ready to build confidence in response to possible concerns, but the issue of enrichment is non-negotiable,” he said. Iran is currently enriching some uranium at 60% and 20%, which is still below the 90% needed for weapons-grade. Tehran has made clear it’s willing to reduce enrichment levels, but eliminating its nuclear program altogether is a non-starter. The 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, which President Trump withdrew from in his first term, capped Iran’s enrichment levels at 3.67%. Trump has been threatening to bomb Iran over its nuclear program, even though US intelligence agencies recently said in their annual threat assessment that there’s no evidence that Tehran is building a nuclear bomb or that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reversed his 2003 fatwah that banned the production of weapons of mass destruction.
US, Iran set to enter next phase of nuclear talks for 'fair, enduring' deal The U.S. and Iran are set to enter the next phase of the nuclear talks to achieve an agreement that would guarantee that the country does not have nuclear weapons or remain under the constraint of sanctions, according to Oman. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, through the mediation of Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi “have agreed to enter into the next phase of their discussions that aim to seal a fair, enduring and binding deal which will ensure Iran completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy.” “It is only in dialogue and clear communication that we will be able to achieve a mutually credible agreement and understanding for the benefit of all concerned regionally and internationally,” a spokesperson for Oman’s foreign ministry said in a Saturday statement. “It is also agreed that the next round will take place in Muscat in the next few days.” The second round of talks between the two sides took place in Rome and started around 11:30 a.m. local time, the U.S. official told The Hill on Saturday. “I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death — and I’d like to see that, that’s my first option,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei wrote Saturday in a post on social platform X that the Islamic Republic has “always demonstrated, with good faith and a sense of responsibility, its commitment to diplomacy as a civilized way to resolve issues, in full respect of the high interests of the Iranian nation.” “We are aware that it is not a smooth path but we take every step with open eyes, relying also on the past experiences,” Baghaei added.
Report: Trump Declined To Back Israeli Attack on Iran in Favor of Diplomacy - President Trump declined an Israeli plan to attack Iran with US support as soon as next month in favor of attempting diplomacy with Tehran over its civilian nuclear program, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.The report said Israel developed plans to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities that would have required significant US support. The initial Israeli plan would have involved a bombing campaign with Israeli commando raids on Iranian nuclear sites in hopes that American aircraft would be involved.The commando plan would have taken months to prepare, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was looking to attack Iran this May, so the plan shifted to a prolonged bombing campaign that would last over a week. The idea would be to destroy Iran’s air defenses and then start targeting nuclear facilities.Officials told the Times that Trump made the decision to hold off on the attack after months of internal debate within the administration. The rough consensus, at least for now, is that the US should hold off on the military option to pursue negotiations. The report said that Vice President JD Vance told the president that he had a unique opportunity to reach a deal with Iran, but he said that if the negotiations failed, Trump could then support the Israeli attack.
Trump Says He's 'Not in a Rush' To Attack Iran Because Tehran Wants Talks - On Thursday, President Trump said he was “not in a rush” to attack Iranwhen asked about a report from The New York Times that said he “waived off” an Israeli plan to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities that would require significant US support.“I wouldn’t say waived off. I’m not in a rush to do it because I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death, and I’d like to see that. That’s my first option,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.“If there’s a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran, and I think Iran is wanting to talk. I hope they’re wanting to talk, it’s going to be very good for them if they do. I’d like to see Iran thrive in the future,” the president added.The Times report said that Trump declined to attack Iran with Israel in favor of pursuing diplomacy to reach a deal related to Iran’s nuclear program. The president has been threatening to bomb Iran over its nuclear program, even though US intelligence agencies have recently reaffirmed in their annual threat assessment that there’s no evidence Iran is building a nuclear weapon.“I don’t want to do anything that’s going to hurt anybody. I really don’t, but Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon … it’s really simple,” Trump said.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also asked about that report and didn’t deny that Israel drew up plans to attack Iran. His office said in a statement that Netanyahu has led a “global campaign against Iran’s nuclear program.”“The prime minister has led countless actions, overt and covert, in the campaign against Iran’s nuclear program — and only because of [those actions], Iran does not have a nuclear weapon in its arsenal today,” Netanyahu’s office added. While the statement claims that pressure from Israel is what has prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, Israeli covert attacks have actually led to increases in Iran’s nuclear activity.
Gabbard Installs Iran Dove William Ruger To Prepare Trump's Intel Briefing -Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has quietly installed William Ruger, a former Charles Koch Institute vice president and skeptic of military action against Iran, into a key position in her department, according to congressional officials. Ruger's appointment to one of the most important jobs in the intelligence community had led to private concern and public praise among congressional Republicans, reflecting the deep divides in the party on key policy questions, from Iran to Ukraine to China. "Will is a solid choice by DNI Gabbard," Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told Axios in a statement. "He has honorably served our country and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table." "This is the kind of principled leadership we need more of in Washington," he said. "Donald Trump said no Koch people should serve and at some point he's going to realize that his administration has become littered with them," said a GOP congressional official.A Gabbard spokesperson declined to comment. nSenate Republicans have outwardly accepted Trump's defense and intelligence nominees, and voted to confirm them.But below the surface, there are vicious battles over who will serve in positions that don't require Senate confirmation, but are hugely influential.The latest flare-up stems from Gabbard's decision to make Ruger the deputy director of national intelligence for mission integration, a consequential job that includes a range of responsibilities, including preparing the president's intelligence briefing.He is listed as the "acting" director on one ODNI webpage, but on the official job description page, the "acting" is missing. Last month, Gabbard decided not to give the same job to Daniel Davis, a critic of Israel and skeptic of foreign interventions, after an uproar from pro-Israel advocates over his expected appointment. But since then, she has quietly given the Like Davis, Ruger has connections to both the Charles Koch Institute and Defense Priorities, think tanks that have been skeptical of military actions against Iran and take a restrained view on how much the U.S. should intervene abroad. .In January, Trump took to Truth Social to warn not to send "or recommend to us, people who worked with, or are endorsed by, Americans for No Prosperity (headed by Charles Koch)," he said, misnaming one of the Koch's groups. The post was broadly interpreted by congressional Republicans as a prohibition against officials affiliated with the Koch network.
Houthis Say They Shot Down Fourth US MQ-9 Reaper Drone Within Two Weeks - Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced on Sunday night that Yemeni air defenses shot down another US MQ-9 Reaper drone, the fourth that’s been shot down within two weeks.“By the grace and help of Allah Almighty, our air defenses succeeded in shooting down a hostile American MQ-9 drone while it was carrying out hostile missions in the airspace of Hajjah Governorate,” Saree said.The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, claimed to have shot down 19 American MQ-9 Reaper drones since October 2023. At $30 million per MQ-9, that means the US has lost $570 million worth of drones to Yemeni air defenses.Since March 18, the US has been launching heavy airstrikes on Houthi-controlled Yemen, which is where about 80% of Yemenis live. But the bombing campaign has failed to deter the Houthis despite claims from the White House that it’s been “incredibly successful.” “The Armed Forces reiterate that their military capabilities have not been affected and that the ongoing American aggression against our country will only bring more disappointment and failure,” Saree said.Earlier in the day, Saree took credit for a missile attack on Israel. According to Israeli media, Israeli air defenses shot down one missile, and the other likely fell well short of its target. The missiles fired from Yemen did trigger air raid sirens and send Israelis to bomb shelters.Saree said the attacks “successfully achieved their objectives, shutting down Ben Gurion Airport for about an hour, causing panic and confusion among the settlers, forcing millions of them to enter shelters.”The Houthis have made it clear that they will only stop their attacks on Israel if there is a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the Israeli blockade on the territory. “The Israeli enemy, along with the Americans, must realize that beloved Yemen—its leadership, people, and army—will not back down from its steadfast position in supporting and backing the oppressed Palestinian people, nor will it abandon its religious, moral, and humanitarian duties, regardless of the repercussions and the outcomes,” Saree said.A senior member of Ansar Allah’s political bureau has said the Houthis would stop attacks on US warships if the US stopped bombing Yemen. Trump administration officials have claimed they would stop the airstrikes if the Houthis declared they would stop targeting US ships, but there’s no sign the US is considering the offer since the bombing campaign is really about protecting Israel.
Fifteen US Airstrikes Hit Yemen's Marib Province - Fifteen US airstrikes hit districts in Yemen’s Marib province on Monday,Yemen’s SABA news agency reported, as the daily US bombing campaign on the country continues.Marib is in the eastern part of Houthi-controlled Yemen, which is where 80% of Yemenis live. The province was the site of heavy ground fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in 2021 during the US-backed Saudi/UAE war on Yemen, which hasn’t officially ended but has been frozen since a 2022 ceasefire.The 2022 ceasefire ended Saudi airstrikes on Yemen, but there have beenoccasional flare-ups on the ground, including in Marib, and Saudi shelling across the Saudi-Yemen border. Military situation in Yemen on April 14, 2025 (SouthFront.press map) The US strikes on Marib come amid reports that the US and Saudi-backed government, which is based in Saudi Arabia, may be preparing forces for a ground assault against the Houthis, who are officially known as Ansar Allah. While the government’s leadership is based in Saudi Arabia, its allied forces are in the eastern and southern parts of Yemen.Ahmed Hassan, a commentator based in Yemen, said in a post on X that the US attacks on Marib could be an indication that a ground offensive is imminent since the strikes hit areas where the Houthis have defensive lines.Backing a new ground offensive against the Houthis means the US would likely be supporting fighters linked to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The Saudi/UAE coalition that fought against the Houthis is known for recruiting al-Qaeda members to fight on the ground, and the military wing of the US-backed government includes former al-Qaeda commanders.The daily US airstrikes have failed to deter the Houthis, who have vowed their attacks against Israel and Israeli shipping would continue until there’s a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the Israeli blockade on the territory.
Dozens of US Airstrikes Reported in Yemen - Dozens of US airstrikes were reported in Yemen on Tuesday night as there’s no end in sight to the daily US bombing campaign, which has failed to deter the Houthis.The Yemeni news agency SABA reported 15 US airstrikes in the Hodeidah province, which hit Kamran Island in the Red Sea. SABA also reported 13 US airstrikes in the northern Saada province.An unspecified number of US airstrikes also hit the Amran province, which neighbors Saada. On Tuesday morning, SABA reported US airstrikes in the provinces of Marib and Jawf.The US military has shared virtually no details about its bombing campaign or about Houthi attacks on US warships in the region. All US Central Command said on Tuesday was that the aircraft carriers USS Harry Truman and USS Carl Vinson, which recently arrived in the region, were launching “24/7 strikes” against Yemen.The Yemeni Health Ministry said on Monday that since the US began the bombing campaign on March 15, at least 123 Yemenis have been killed, and 247 have been wounded. Many civilians, including women and children, are among the casualties, but the breakdown is unclear.The Yemen Data Project said in a report on Monday that from March 15 to April 7, it recorded 39 civilians killed and 103 injured by the US bombing campaign. Civilian targets that US airstrikes have hit include residential buildings, water infrastructure, a farm, factories, and a cancer treatment facility.The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, have vowed their attacks on Israel and the blockade on Israeli shipping would only stop if there were a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian territory.
US Considering Backing a Ground Offensive Against the Houthis in Yemen - The US is considering backing a ground offensive against the Houthis in Yemen, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.The report said that plans to back anti-Houthi militias on the ground have been brought to the US by the UAE and that the US is open to the idea but hasn’t made a final decision yet.The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, have controlled Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, since 2014 and currently govern an area where 80% of Yemenis live. The US supported a Saudi/UAE-led coalition against the Houthis from 2015 to 2022 in a brutal war that killed hundreds of thousands of Yemenis but failed to return former Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power. In 2022, after reaching a ceasefire with the Houthis, the Saudis pushed Hadi aside and replaced him with a Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) that includes several different factions. The PLC’s leadership is based in Saudi Arabia, but it is considered Yemen’s “internationally recognized” government. Military situation in Yemen on April 15, 2025 (SouthFront.press map)Factions allied with the PLC have fighters on the ground in southern and eastern Yemen, including the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a southern separatist group. Last year, an investigation from the BBCrevealed that the UAE had recruited former al-Qaeda members who joined the STC, including Nasser al-Shiba, an STC commander who is a suspect in the bombing of the USS Cole.Previous reporting during the Saudi/UAE war against the Houthis revealed that the coalition had recruited al-Qaeda fighters to join its ranks. US weapons sold to Saudi Arabia and the UAE also ended up in the hands of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Before backing the coalition, the US actually briefly cooperated with the Houthis against AQAP and reportedlyshared intelligence with the Zaydi Shia group.The idea of the new potential ground offensive in Yemen would involve the UAE-backed factions launching an offensive against Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeidah. The Journal report said that Saudi officials have privately said they don’t want to be involved in the ground offensives over fears the Houthis could begin targeting oil fields deep inside Saudi Arabia.Erik Sperling, the executive director of Just Foreign Policy, said in a post on X that if the Saudis really opposed the ground offensive, they would stop funding their Yemeni proxies.“If Saudi truly opposes a new ground war, they can easily stop it by threatening to cut funds for proxy Yemeni ‘government,'” Sperling said. “But if they keep funding their Yemeni proxies as they launch a major ground escalation, Saudi oil and other infrastructure will likely be targeted again.”The US has been pounding Yemen with airstrikes since March 15, but the bombing campaign has done nothing to deter the Houthis, who have vowed their attacks on Israel and blockade on Israeli shipping would only stop if there was a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian territory.
The US Just Massacred Civilians In Yemen Without Even Claiming They're Military Targets -Caitlin Johnstone -The US massacred civilians in Yemen with repeated strikes on a Hodeidah fuel port on Wednesday night, killing some 17 workers in the first bombing and five medical workers in the second “double tap” attack.They’re not even trying to disguise this as a strike on a military target; CENTCOM’s sole justification was that “The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis,” saying that “Despite the Foreign Terrorist Designation that went into effect on 05 April, ships have continued to supply fuel via the port of Ras Isa.” They’re not even claiming the port was a “Houthi stronghold” or some shit; their sole claim is that Washington decreed Ansar Allah are terrorists, so they have a right to massacre civilians while destroying critical civilian infrastructure.Israel’s actions in Gaza are shredding norms all over the place. It’s probably worth noting here that Trump officials have said they’d stop bombing Yemen if Ansar Allah said they’d stop attacking US ships, but Ansar Allah made exactly that offer recently and the bombing has continued. The offer was likely ignored because Yemen would still be attacking Israeli ships, and this is really about protecting Israel’s ability to commit genocide in Gaza. Cenk Uygur said that Trump “deserves a ton of credit” because of a New York Times report that, for the time being, he has decided to opt for diplomacy with Iran rather than war. No, Trump does not deserve “credit” for deciding to hold off on starting a war with Iran. That’s like saying I deserve a trophy for not firebombing a preschool today.
US Massacres Civilian Workers and Paramedics in Attack on Yemen Fuel Port -On Thursday night, the US bombed the Ras Isa fuel port in Yemen’s Red Sea province of Hodeidah, targeting the facility with two attacks that killed dozens of civilian workers and paramedics. According to Yemen’s Health Ministry, at least 80 people, including at least five paramedics, were killed, and 150 were wounded. The paramedics were hit by a second US attack on the facility that came after rescue workers had already arrived at the scene to help victims of the first strikes (watch graphic footage of the aftermath of the attack here).While the US has shared virtually no details about its bombing campaign in Yemen since it began on March 15, US Central Command took credit for the attack on the fuel port, which has grave implications for millions of Yemeni civilians who are facing severe food shortages.CENTCOM justified the strike on vital civilian infrastructure by saying the Houthis, who govern an area where about 80% of Yemenis live, “profit” off fuel that enters the port. CENTCOM did not claim it was targeting a military site.“Today, US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years,” CENTCOM said. “The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen.”The command claimed it was not trying to hurt the “Yemeni people” despite the severe impact fuel shortages will have on Yemeni civilians.“Bombing the Ras Isa fuel port is not just an attack on infrastructure, it’s an attack on the lifelines that keep millions of Yemenis alive,” Aisha Jumaan, president of the Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation, told Antiwar.com.“Without fuel, hospitals will cease to function, clean water will be scarce, and food supplies will diminish. We saw this during the Saudi blockade on Yemen where fuel shortages crippled hospitals, cut off clean water, halted farming, and stifled humanitarian aid,” Jumaan said.“Similarly, we expect this bombing to deepen famine, fuel disease outbreaks, and worsen the suffering of millions. Yemenis have suffered so much, this will only deepen their pain and push even more families to the brink of survival,” she added.
U.S. Strike on Yemen Oil Port Kills 58, Houthis Say -At least 58 people were killed in U.S. air strikes on a fuel port in Yemen, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV said on Friday, in what could be the deadliest U.S. attack in Yemen since U.S. President Donald Trump ordered strikes on targets of the Iran-aligned rebels a month ago. In the middle of March, the U.S. began air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, with the U.S. Department of Defense stating the attacks would continue until the Houthis stop attacking ships traversing the Red Sea. The U.S. Central Command said on Thursday about the attack that “The Iran-backed Houthis use fuel to sustain their military operations, as a weapon of control, and to benefit economically from embezzling the profits from the import.” “This fuel should be legitimately supplied to the people of Yemen. Despite the Foreign Terrorist Designation that went into effect on 05 April, ships have continued to supply fuel via the port of Ras Isa. Profits from these illegal sales are directly funding and sustaining Houthi terrorist efforts.” The Central Command also noted that “US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years.” The U.S. military said that the objective of the latest strikes was to reduce the economic source of power of the Houthis. “This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully.” “The Houthis, their Iranian masters, and those who knowingly aid and abet their terrorist actions should be put on notice that the world will not accept illicit smuggling of fuel and war material to a terrorist organization,” the Central Command said. The Houthis responded in a statement that “We affirm that the targeting of the Ras Isa oil port is a full-fledged war crime, as the port is a civilian facility and not a military one.”
US airstrikes in Yemen kill 80 and injure over 150 --On Friday, the Trump administration launched a major airstrike against the Ras Isa oil port in western Yemen that resulted in the deaths of at least 80 people and injured over 150 others. Among the injured were port workers and civilians, as well as rescue personnel who were responding to the initial blast and who were then hit by a second, follow-up strike. The strikes were the deadliest action ordered by President Donald Trump since the administration began an intensified bombing campaign last month in retaliation for Houthi attacks on Israel related to the Gaza genocide and US ships in the Red Sea. The attack on the port began late Thursday, and it sent massive fireballs shooting into the night sky. The Houthis’ Al-Masirah satellite news channel broadcast graphic footage of the aftermath and showed corpses of dead people strewn across the site. Al-Masirah TV also reported that a total of 14 airstrikes hit Ras Isa. A report in the New York Times said, The bombing’s deadly toll plunged Hudaydah into grief, said Manal Ahmad, 35, who lives in the city. She said she personally knew families who had lost loved ones, and social media was full of posts mourning those killed. “We saw the images of the victims and the extent of the destruction,” Ms. Ahmad said in a phone interview. “What legitimate target are they talking about? Whatever the goal was—if there even was one—I don’t think it justifies the number of dead and wounded.”Ras Isa is a fuel port and oil storage facility in Yemen’s Hodeida governorate and located along the Red Sea. It is situated approximately 35 miles north of the port city of Hodeidah, which has a population of 735,000. Ras Isa is also close to Kamaran Island, which has been the target of recent US airstrikes. The port has a storage capacity of 3 million barrels.The strikes on Hudaydah’s ports are also a deliberate attack on the impoverished people of northern Yemen, who depend on the port region as the main conduit for fuel, food and aid for more than 20 million people. In typical form, a statement from Central Command claimed the US took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years.Then in a statement of utter hypocrisy that is the calling card of US imperialism, the Pentagon said:This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully. When asked by the Associated Press about civilian casualties in the attack, the Pentagon refused to acknowledge any and declined to comment.
Hamas Says It Lost Contact With Guards of US-Israeli Captive After Israeli Strike - Hamas’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, said Tuesday that, following an Israeli airstrike, it lost contact with a group guarding Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli soldier with American citizenship who was captured during Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel.“We announce that we have lost contact with the team guarding soldier Edan Alexander following a direct Israeli bombardment targeting their location. We are still trying to reach them,” said Qassam spokesman Abu Obeida.“It seems that the occupation army is deliberately trying to kill him and hence relieve themselves from the pressure caused by the dual-citizen prisoners in order to continue its genocide against our people,” Obeida added.Alexander grew up in New Jersey and moved to Israel to join the IDF after high school. He is believed to be the only surviving Israeli hostage in Gaza with Israeli citizenship. Hamas also has the bodies of four dual US-Israeli citizens.The Trump administration was briefly engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas to reach a deal that would free Alexander. The effort was opposed by Israel, and US officials believe that Israeli officials leaked information about the negotiations to the media to derail them.
Israel To Receive 'Major' New Weapons Shipment from the US - -The Israeli military is set to receive a “major new weapons shipment” from the US in the coming weeks to help prepare it for continued operations in Gaza and a potential attack on Iran, the Israeli news site Ynet reported on Monday. The details of the arms shipment are unclear, but Ynet said it would include 3,000 munitions for Israel’s Air Force. The report said the bomb shipment was recently approved by the Trump administration.The Pentagon’s Defense Cooperation Agency said on Monday that the State Department approved a $180 million arms deal for Eitan Powerpack Engines that will go to Israel, but it did not announce any new bomb shipments.The Ynet report said the new weapons shipment will help prepare the Israeli military for a new “large-scale campaign” in Gaza and that it comes in addition to over 10,000 munitions that are expected to replenish Israeli stockpiles soon.The Trump administration has approved a series of arms deals and weapons shipments for Israel, totaling more than $12 billion, includingtens of thousands of 2,000-pound bombs, which Israel has dropped ondensely populated civilian areas of Gaza.Trump officials have claimed that the Biden administration placed a “partial arms embargo” on Israel, but President Biden provided more military aid to Israel in a single year than any other US president in history.Besides fueling Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, US military aid to Israel also supports Israel’s stepped-up military operations in the West Bank and its occupations of southern Lebanon and southern Syria.
"Israel Has A Right To Defend Itself" Is A Genocidal Slogan - Caitlin Johnstone - Bernie Sanders has been repeatedly uttering the phrase “Israel has a right to defend itself” on his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour with Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, which in the year 2025 can only be interpreted as blatant genocide apologia. Israel does not have “a right to defend itself” against an occupied population in a giant concentration camp. Under international law it has a right to end the occupation, and that’s it. “Israel has a right to defend itself” is just a slogan people say when they want to justify supplying an ongoing genocide.At one point in the tour Sanders stood passively watching as police dragged off rally attendees who draped a Free Palestine flag over the US flag during his speech. He just awkwardly continued monologuing as their flag was confiscated and they were forcibly removed, even as the crowd booed and eventually began chanting “Free Palestine”.Sanders has been mixing his support for Israel in with periodic criticisms of Netanyahu and the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza, always taking care to make his criticisms about the behavior of Israel’s current leadership and not the nature of the racist apartheid state itself.Sanders is doing this for two reasons. Firstly, he is working to galvanize a big tent inclusive coalition of Democrats in opposition to Trump, and he wants that big tent to include people who think genocide is bad and people who think genocide is fine. He doesn’t want to offend the pro-genocide liberals.Secondly, Sanders is doing this because he himself is a Zionist. Like other liberal Zionists, Bernie Sanders upholds a vision of an Israel that has never, ever existed: one which remains an ethnostate dominated by Jews, but which conducts itself in a kind and just manner, without constantly murdering and abusing Palestinians.This iteration of the state of Israel is a fiction. An imaginary fantasyland, like Narnia. Everything about Israel is stacked against the possibility of such a status quo ever emerging, and Israel has always done everything it can to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state. By pretending it is possible to have the Zionist entity and also have peace and justice, liberal Zionists help manufacture public consent for continuing to feed weapons to the genocidal apartheid state of Israel.
Every Day The Gaza Holocaust Continues, The Empire Tells The Truth About Itself -- Every day the Gaza holocaust continues, the western empire tells the truth about itself. The US government is telling you the truth about itself. Israel is telling you the truth about itself. Their western allies are telling you the truth about themselves. The western media are telling you the truth about themselves. One of the most important stages when preparing to leave an abusive relationship is the information-gathering stage. This is when you begin quietly observing and making note of your partner’s abusive behavior, letting them tell you the truth about themselves with their actions rather than their words. The information-gathering stage is important because long-term abusive relationships are usually very confusing for the victim; if the abuse were simple and easy to understand, the relationship wouldn’t have continued into the long term. It’s therefore often helpful to cultivate a clear understanding of the lay of the land before trying to navigate your way out of it, especially if your abuser is particularly manipulative and adept at confusing you. This ensures that you will be able to view their manipulations with distrust, so you won’t get sucked in by them. As infuriating as it is to watch this genocide drag out month after bloody month, it would be a mistake to believe everyone is just passively witnessing it all. If you watched someone you love in the information-gathering stage prior to leaving an abusive relationship, you might get frustrated by what appears to be inertia and passivity on their part when what you want to see is them sprinting for the door with a suitcase. But they’re not inert or passive — they’re gathering information. Westerners are in a psychologically abusive relationship with the empire. Our minds are hammered with propaganda indoctrination from as soon as we are old enough to start learning about our world to ensure our compliance with the power structure that rules over us. It happens in school. It happens with the mass media. It happens with the Silicon Valley platforms we look to for information. And it gets confusing. All the information about our world and our place in it is distorted by mass-scale psychological manipulation for the benefit of the powerful. It’s hard for someone who’s been raised in such an environment to navigate their mind out of its indoctrination. It’s hard to know the truth. But in Gaza, the empire is telling us the truth. It’s exposing itself in all its naked loathsomeness. Our rulers murder children. Our rulers sponsor genocide and ethnic cleansing. Our rulers lie to us and manipulate us. Our rulers work to censor, silence, marginalize and deport anyone who criticizes their criminality. We do not live in a free society that is guided by truth and morality. We live under the most murderous and tyrannical power structure on the face of this planet. And we should distrust everything about it. That’s what they’re showing us with the Gaza holocaust. More and more people are opening their eyes to it every day. And when enough eyes open, leaving the abusive relationship once and for all becomes a real possibility.
Report: US Tells Israel It Will Begin Drawdown From Syria in Two Months - Pentagon officials have told their Israeli counterparts that the US will begin a phased withdrawal of its troops from Syria within two months, the Israeli news site Ynet reported on Tuesday.A senior Israeli official said that the US withdrawal could be partial, meaning only some of the estimated 2,000 US troops in eastern Syria could leave. Reuters later reported that the US is planning to “consolidate” its presence in Syria and will likely reduce the number of troops in the country to about 1,000.Israel is opposed to any drawdown or a full withdrawal of US troops from Syria, and the Ynet report said Israeli officials are working to prevent it over concerns related to Turkey.Since the regime change that ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which Israel supported, the Israeli military has invaded southern Syria and has been bombing military targets across the country. Israel now appears focused on keeping Turkish forces out of central Syria, warning it would impede the Israeli military’s “operational freedom” in the country. Israel recently bombed the T-4 air base in Tadmur, central Syria, amid reports that Turkey is planning to establish a military presence there, and Israeli officials said the airstrikes were meant as a “message” to Ankara. One Israeli security source told Ynet that the attacks on the T-4 base were part of “a race against time” before “the Americans pack up and leave.”During the first Trump administration, Israel played a role in convincing President Trump to keep troops in Syria after he announced plans for a withdrawal. At the time, Israel didn’t want Iran or its allies, which included the Assad government, gaining a foothold in the areas currently occupied by the US, which include oil and gas fields.The US backs the Kurdish-led SDF in eastern and northern Syria, which recently began handing over control of some areas in the northern Aleppo Governorate to government forces under an integration agreement with the Syrian government that’s led by the al-Qaeda offshoot Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The deal has eased tensions in northern Syria, ending fighting between the SDF and the Turkish-backed SNA, and was seen as a potential path to a US withdrawal.
US begins pulling hundreds of troops from Syria -The U.S. military is withdrawing hundreds of troops from Syria, a shift the Pentagon is framing as a “consolidation” that reflects the changing security environment in the country. “Recognizing the success the United States has had against ISIS, including its 2019 territorial defeat under President Trump, today the Secretary of Defense directed the consolidation of U.S. forces in Syria under Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve to select locations in Syria,” Pentagon press secretary Sean Parnell said in a statement Friday. Parnell said the drawdown is a “deliberate and conditions-based process” that will bring the U.S. forces in Syria down to fewer than 1,000 in the coming months. The dip comes after the U.S. military under the Biden administration announced in December it had raised the number of troops in Syria from 900 to 2,000 to help with growing threats from ISIS and Iranian-backed militias in the region.The Pentagon statement Friday did not say where troops will be pulled from, but The New York Times reported Thursday that the U.S. military would shutter three of its eight small outposts in northeast Syria, withdrawing some 600 service members. Two senior U.S. officials told the outlet the bases are Mission Support Site Green Village, M.S.S. Euphrates and a third smaller facility. \ The move comes after President Trump during his first term attempted to withdraw all forces from Syria in 2018 but was met with opposition from Pentagon leaders. Defense officials contended that leaving entirely would abandon the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led militia that aided the U.S. in defeating ISIS in the country. The split of opinion between Trump and his generals led to the resignation of his first Defense secretary, Jim Mattis. \ Pulling 600 American forces from Syria would place its ground numbers at the same level as it had been for years after the fall of ISIS in 2019. Washington kept about 900 troops in the country to keep the militant group from resurging, hold Iranian-backed militias at bay and keep Turkey from attacking the Kurdish forces, which Ankara views as associated with terrorists.
US Removing Hundreds of Troops From Syria, 1,400 Will Remain - The US military has started removing hundreds of troops from Syria but will leave over 1,000 in the country, at least for now, The New York Timesreported on Thursday.US officials told the Times that the US was shuttering three of its eight bases in northeast Syria and that it would bring troop levels down from 2,000 to 1,400. After 60 days, the US military will assess the situation and potentially make additional cuts to the troop presence.The report said that US commanders have recommended leaving about 500 troops in Syria. For years, the Pentagon claimed there were only 900 US troops occupying Syria, but the Biden administration revealed late last yearthat the real number was 2,000. News of the drawdown comes after the US-backed Kurdish-led SDF signed an integration agreement with the HTS-led Syrian government. Under the deal, the SDF has been handing over territory in northern Syria to government forces, which has eased tensions with Turkey and ended fighting between the SDF and the Turkish-backed SNA.The SDF integration agreement was seen as a step toward a potential US withdrawal or drawdown since it would lessen the threat of Turkey launching another military offensive against the Kurds.Israeli media recently reported that the US had informed Israel it would be removing some troops from Syria and that Israel is opposed to any US drawdown or withdrawal from the country due to its concerns over Turkey expanding its presence.
US Launches Airstrike in Somalia, Says One ISIS Fighter Killed - The US launched an airstrike in Somalia’s Puntland region against the small ISIS affiliate that’s based there, US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a press release over the weekend. AFRICOM claimed its “initial assessment” found the strike killed one ISIS fighter and that no civilians were harmed, but the Pentagon is known for hiding civilian casualties in Somalia, and there’s very little media coverage of its operations in the country.The attack marked the second known US airstrike in Somalia this month. The last one occurred on April 1 and also targeted ISIS in Puntland. In that strike, AFRICOM claimed “multiple enemy combatants were killed.”In both cases, AFRICOM said the strike was launched in coordination with the US-backed Mogadishu-based federal government, but Puntland is not under the federal government’s control.Last year, Puntland, which has acted as a semi-autonomous state, announced it was withdrawing from the federal system. Local Puntland forces have been fighting against ISIS forces on the ground and have been receiving air support from the US.The Trump administration has also launched strikes against al-Shabaab, which has been engaged in an offensive against federal government forces in the south. The New York Times recently reported that the Trump administration is divided on how to handle the al-Shabaab offensive, with some officials urging the US to escalate and ramp up its airstrikes.State Department officials have suggested evacuating the US embassy in Mogadishu over fears that the city could fall to al-Shabaab. The idea would be to pull diplomatic personnel early to avoid an Afghanistan-style withdrawal.
Somali Government Says US Launched Airstrikes Against al-Shabaab -The US-backed Somali government said on Thursday that the US launched airstrikes in support of its operations against al-Shabaab, which has been making gains in a ground offensive in southern and central Somalia.The Somali Information Ministry said in a press release that on Wednesday night, a joint airstrike launched by US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Somali military targeted Adan Yabaal, a town about 140 miles north of Mogadishu that al-Shabaab just captured.The Information Ministry claimed that 12 al-Shabaab fighters were killed in the strike and that there were no civilian casualties. In another press release, the ministry said the US and Somalia carried out another airstrike against vessels it claimed were carrying weapons for al-Shabaab.“The operation took place in Somali territorial waters, targeting an unflagged ship and a smaller support craft. These vessels were transporting modern weaponry that posed a significant threat to the security of Somalia,” the ministry said.So far, AFRICOM has not confirmed the airstrikes, but it’s unclear if the command has been reporting each strike it launches in Somalia. Africom has taken credit for two attacks this month against the small ISIS affiliate that’s based in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland region.The US airstrikes against al-Shabaab come after The New York Timesreported that the Trump administration is divided on how to handle the al-Shabaab offensive. State Department officials have recommended evacuating the US embassy in Mogadishu as a precaution, suggesting the US believes the city could fall to al-Shabaab.
Trump directs US military to take control of much of US-Mexico border--In a memorandum issued late Friday night, US President Donald Trump directed the US military to take control of a large portion of the US-Mexico border and adopt repressive measures that would effectively treat migrants crossing the border as though they were attacking a US military base. The memorandum includes a section that reads: “In carrying out activities under this memorandum, members of the Armed Forces will follow rules for the use of force prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.” No boundaries are set to limit the use of force, meaning that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a notorious defender of US military war crimes and individual war criminals, could authorize the use of lethal force against immigrants seeking to enter the United States. Under the title “Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions,” the memorandum directs the secretaries of Defense, Interior, Agriculture and Homeland Security to transfer all federal land within 60 feet of the land border with Mexico to the jurisdiction of the Pentagon. This long strip of territory is known as the “Roosevelt Reservation” because it was originally set aside as federal land more than a century ago under President Theodore Roosevelt. It includes the vast bulk of the US-Mexico land border, passing through California, Arizona and New Mexico, but does not include the Rio Grande, the border between Texas and Mexico. The strip also excludes portions of Native American reservations along the border, and a few isolated pieces of private property. In keeping with the general posture of the Democratic Party, which has collaborated with Trump’s fascistic attacks on immigrants, there was no public response to the border memorandum from the Democratic governors of the three states involved, Gavin Newsom of California, Katie Hobbs of Arizona and Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico. Hobbs has been complaining for weeks that $69 million in federal assistance for border enforcement was being held up by the DOGE review of grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a unit of the DHS. According to Trump’s order, the Roosevelt Reservation would be designated as “National Defense Areas” so that border enforcement activity would “occur on a military installation under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense.” This would allow the administration to claim that military actions against migrants did not violate the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of the military in police activities within the United States.
Trump Accuses Mexico of Water Treaty Violation -Trump has accused Mexico of violating a 1944 water treaty by failing to deliver enough water to Texas, harming farmers in the south and leading to the closure of a sugar mill. Trump is threatening tariffs over the issue, also mentioning sanctions (however, tariffs and sanctions seem to be conjoined in the administration). We are keeping a close eye on developments between Israel and Turkey, who are at dangerous odds over the future of Syria, with both external actors now homing in on Assad’s old military bases. Israel is bombing them, and Turkey is moving into them. Syria is still up for grabs, and the U.S. has not recognized any actors as the new government. The Russia-Ukraine war has largely been forgotten amid the tariff and market chaos, but it continues nonetheless, with Russia claiming late on Thursday to have captured another Ukrainian village in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, which lies directly across from Russia’s Kursk region (where Ukraine has occupied territory for eight months). Kyiv has not confirmed the Russian claim. In a development certain to increase tensions over the coveted Horn of Africa region, Türkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced on Thursday that Turkish Petroleum will soon begin exploring 3 onshore oil and gas fields in Somalia, covering…
Second Hegseth adviser suspended amid Pentagon leak probe - A second adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been suspended amid an ongoing probe into leaks of information at the Pentagon. The Defense Department’s deputy chief of staff, Darin Selnick, was placed on administrative leave “pending an investigation,” a U.S. Defense official told The Hill. Selnick’s suspension came as part of the same investigation into the leaks at the department that led to Dan Caldwell, Hegseth’s senior adviser, being escorted out of the Pentagon on Tuesday and placed on administrative leave. Selnick is a retired Air Force officer who has been a part of several veterans’ affairs groups. From 2019-24, he was a senior adviser to the Concerned Veterans for America, the nonprofit group previously led by Hegseth. Selnick’s suspension was first reported by Politico. The outlet reported that leaks under probe by the department include the movement of a second aircraft carrier to the Red Sea, military operations plans for the Panama Canal, tech billionaire Elon Musk’s visit to the department and halting intelligence sharing with Ukraine, citing an official familiar with the matter. President Trump’s administration has looked to crack down on leaks within the Pentagon and other departments. The Defense Department said in March that it began a probe into “recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information” and that it would use polygraphs as part of the investigative process. “This investigation will commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense,” Hegseth’s chief of staff Joe Kasper wrote in a March 21 memo. “The report will include a complete record of unauthorized disclosures within the Department of Defense and recommendations to improve such efforts.”
Third top Defense Department official placed on leave amid leak probe - Suspensions at the Defense Department have continued, with a third top Pentagon official being placed on administrative leave amid an ongoing investigation into information leaks at the department. Colin Carroll, chief of staff to deputy secretary of Defense Steve A. Feinberg, was placed on administrative leave on Wednesday, a U.S. defense official told The Hill. The department did not have any more information to share. Carroll’s suspension came just a day after two of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s advisers were suspended and escorted out of the Pentagon. On Tuesday, the Defense Department suspended and escorted out Dan Caldwell, Hegseth’s senior adviser, and Darin Selnick, the department’s deputy chief of staff. Both Caldwell and Selnick previously worked at Concerned Veterans for America, a nonprofit group previously headed by Hegseth. Carroll, a U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer, previously worked at Anduril Industries, a defense contractor that specializes in autonomous systems, according to his LinkedIn. He also worked at Applied Intuition, a software company headquartered in California. Carroll deployed to Afghanistan four times as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with an aerospace engineering degree and got his master’s degree from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service.
Entire Pentagon defense tech unit to leave by May - The entire staff of the Defense Digital Service (DDS), the Pentagon’s decade-old technology development office, is leaving by the start of May, with nearly all individuals resigning, a current member of the office confirmed to The Hill on Tuesday.The mass exodus, first reported by Politico, means the service will effectively shutter in less than a month. Of the 14 members of the office, a dozen, including Director Jennifer Hay, have requested the Trump administration’s deferred resignation option and plan to leave by May 1. Two other staffers are also leaving in that time frame.“Although DDS was excited to support DoD’s efforts to improve efficiencies and champion software modernization initiatives, the Administration was not leveraging DDS and hiring freezes, rescinding remote work, and travel restrictions were making us non-mission capable,” the current office member told The Hill. “As a result, most of the team elected to resign.”A Pentagon spokesperson did not provide any additional information when asked for comment on the resignations.
DHS To Revoke Temporary Protected Status For Afghans, Cameroonians In US -Thousands of Afghans and Cameroonians living in the United States will have their temporary protected status (TPS) revoked in the coming months, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Monday.DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has terminated TPS designations for Afghanistan and Cameroon as she determined that the countries’ current conditions no longer warrant protections, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times.As The Epoch Times' Aldgra Fredly reports, the decision will affect about 14,600 Afghans, who are set to lose their legal status in May, and approximately 7,900 Cameroonians, whose protected status will expire by June.McLaughlin stated that Noem decided to terminate Afghanistan’s TPS designation following a review by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which had also consulted with the State Department.TPS is a designation that allows individuals from countries affected by armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary events the ability to remain in the United States.Global Refuge, a U.S.-based nonprofit refugee resettlement agency, has condemned the DHS move to revoke protections for Afghan nationals and urged the government to reverse its course.Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge, stated that Afghanistan has been facing a humanitarian crisis under Taliban rule, which seized power in August 2021 following the withdrawal of American troops from the country.In a statement, Vignarajah called the decision to revoke protections for Afghans “a morally indefensible betrayal,” saying that the individuals could face oppression if deported to Afghanistan.“Afghanistan today is still reeling from Taliban rule, economic collapse, and humanitarian disaster,” she said. “Forcing them back to Taliban rule, where they face systemic oppression and gender-based violence, would be an utterly unconscionable stain on our nation’s reputation.”
Stephen Miller contradicts DOJ court docs on man mistakenly deported - White House aide Stephen Miller contradicted a number of statements the Trump administration has made in court, claiming a Maryland man was not deported to a Salvadoran prison in error. Miller’s comment came after the Justice Department said Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national and Maryland resident, was deported due to an “administrative error,” as he was protected from deportation in a 2019 order from a judge. The career Justice Department attorney who made the disclosure was suspended later when Attorney General Pam Bondi said he failed to “vigorously” defend the Trump administration. But Miller said Monday that attorney Erez Reuveni was suspended for an “incorrect” line. “Nobody was mistakenly deported anywhere. That’s a big fact that all of you, most of you, have gotten wrong. No one was mistakenly sent anywhere. The only mistake that was made is a lawyer put an incorrect line in a legal filing that’s since been relieved. … He is El Salvadorian. He is an illegal alien. He was deported to El Salvador,” Miller told reporters at the White House on Monday. While it was a filing from Reuveni that said Abrego Garcia was deported in error, other Trump administration officials have made sworn declarations indicating he was mistakenly removed from the country. “The operation that led to Abrego-Garcia’s removal to El Salvador was designed to only include individuals with no impediments to removal. … ICE was aware of this grant of withholding of removal at the time Abrego-Garcia’s removal from the United States. Reference was made to this status on internal forms,” Robert Cerna, the acting field office director for enforcement and removal operations at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, wrote in a declaration filed last month.
Trump team sidesteps court questions about efforts to secure mistakenly deported man The Trump administration declined to provide an update on the Maryland man it mistakenly deported to El Salvador, instead pointing to comments from President Nayib Bukele declining to cooperate on the matter. It was an unusual filing that came more than an hour after a deadline imposed by a judge who had asked for an update on Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s status and details on what efforts have been made to secure his return from a Salvadoran prison. “DHS does not have the authority to forcibly extract an alien from the domestic custody of a foreign sovereign nation,” Joseph Mazzara, the acting general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), wrote in a declaration to the court. The declaration references Monday comments from Bukele saying he would not return Abrego Garcia. “How could I return him to the United States? I smuggle him to the United States? Of course I’m not going to do it. The question is preposterous,” Bukele said. The Supreme Court recently ordered the Trump administration to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return. But Attorney General Pam Bondi said during the meeting with Bukele that they were only required to send a plane to return Abrego Garcia if El Salvador agreed. The filing also raises a new argument — that Abrego Garcia cannot be returned as his gang ties override his 2019 protection from deportation. Mazzara wrote that even though Abrego Garcia was protected from removal, “he is no longer eligible … because of his membership in MS-13, which is now a designated foreign terrorist organization.” However, that assertion is based on a sworn declaration from the assistant director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removal division, and it’s unclear what the legal basis is for the argument. While elsewhere Evan Katz recounts immigration court decisions that review Abrego Garcia’s status in the U.S. and detail his protection from removal, the ICE official does not do so when saying his protections are not valid. “I understand that he should not have been removed to El Salvador because the immigration judge had also granted Abrego Garcia withholding of removal to El Salvador. However, I also understand that Abrego Garcia is no longer eligible for withholding of removal because of his membership in MS-13 which is now a designated foreign terrorist organization,” Katz wrote in the Sunday filing.” The Monday filing comes as the Department of Justice and attorneys for Abrego Garcia are due in court on Tuesday.
Donald Trump, Nayib Bukele say they won't return mistakenly deported man to US -Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said Monday that he has no plans to return a Maryland man wrongfully deported to a prison in his country, telling reporters, “Of course I’m not going to do it.” Bukele’s Oval Office meeting with President Trump was the first since the Supreme Court ruled last week that the U.S. must “facilitate” the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. However, both Trump and Bukele suggested they don’t have the power to return the Maryland man and Salvadoran national to the U.S., with several Trump administration figures gathered in the office mischaracterizing the substance of the court’s order. “How could I return him to the United States? I smuggle him to the United States? Of course I’m not going to do it. The question is preposterous,” Bukele said, going on to refer to Abrego Garcia as a terrorist. “I don’t have the power to return him to the United States. I’m not releasing — I mean, we’re not very fond of releasing terrorists into our country,” he added, saying El Salvador is no longer the murder capital of the world. Before Bukele spoke, Trump and a number of his aides suggested the decision would rest with El Salvador. “That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him. That’s not up to us,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said. Trump repeatedly bashed CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins and the network for asking about Abrego Garcia. “How long do we have to answer this question from you? Why don’t you just say, ‘Isn’t it wonderful that we’re keeping criminals out of our country?’” Trump remarked. The Supreme Court ruled last week that the government must “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return. “The order properly requires the Government to ‘facilitate’ Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador,” the Supreme Court ruled, referencing a lower court decision.
Schumer: El Salvador refusal to return mistakenly deported man ‘pure nonsense’ - Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) panned Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Monday after he said that he has no plans to return a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to his country earlier this year, calling the plan “pure nonsense.” When asked by reporters if he will return Kilmar Abrego Garcia after the Supreme Court ruled last week that the U.S. must “facilitate” such a move, Bukele shot back: “Of course I’m not going to do it.” Schumer heaped criticism on those remarks, pointing to the Court’s order. “President Bukele’s comment today is pure nonsense. The law is clear, due process was grossly violated, and the Supreme Court has clearly spoken that the Trump administration must facilitate and effectuate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia,” Schumer said in a statement. “He should be returned to the U.S. immediately,” he continued. “Due process and the rule of law are cornerstones of American society for citizens and noncitizens alike and not to follow that is dangerous and outrageous. A threat to one is a threat to all.” Both Trump and Bukele argued they don’t have the power to return Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man and Salvadoran national, to the U.S. The administration has admitted that it mistakenly deported Abrego Garcia to a high-security prison in the Central American country. “How could I return him to the United States? I smuggle him to the United States? Of course I’m not going to do it. The question is preposterous,” Bukele said, labeling Abrego Garcia a terrorist. Attorney General Pam Bondi pressed that the decision is up to El Salvador and that the U.S. can do nothing more than send potential transportation. “The Supreme Court ruled, president, that if El Salvador wants to return him … we would facilitate it, meaning provide a plane,” Bondi said.Abrego Garcia was deported because he was accused by a confidential informant of being a member of the MS-13 gang in New York. His family has maintained that he fled El Salvador due to gang violence and that he has never lived in New York. He was not supposed to be deported due to a judge’s order that indicated a legitimate fear that he would be persecuted by a local gang.
Trump administration lawyers refuse to provide updates on Abrego Garcia, promise to deport him again if he returns to US - In a court hearing Tuesday concerning Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Trump Justice Department lawyers refused to provide any updates on what steps the US government is taking to facilitate his return to the United States from a mega-prison in El Salvador. Abrego Garcia, 29, was one of over 250 men— the majority of whom have never been convicted of a crime— kidnapped and deported to El Salvador last month under the Alien Enemies Act. The Trump administration is using the case of Abrego Garcia to steamroll over what remains of democratic rights in the United States. Openly defying a Supreme Court ruling last Thursday which required the US government to “facilitate” the return of Abrego Garcia to the US, in a court filing before Tuesday’s hearing, Department of Homeland Security attorney Joseph Mazzara argued the agency did not have the “authority” to “forcibly extract an alien from the domestic custody of a foreign sovereign nation.” In the same filing Mazzara wrote that if Abrego Garcia was able to somehow escape El Salvador’s Centro del Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) and “present at a port of entry” to the US, he would be detained and removed again to a “third country” or, Mazzara wrote, DHS would “terminate his withholding of removal because of his membership in MS-13, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and remove him to El Salvador.” As a matter of fact, while Trump officials and fascist propagandists constantly claim Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13, they have yet to submit any evidence to corroborate this allegation in any of their recent court findings. Mazzara’s statement that the US government does not have the “authority” to demand Abrego Garcia’s return is a shameless lie. The US government is paying its client, the Bukele dictatorship, some $6 million to detain him and others in CECOT, the largest prison in the Americas. Less than three weeks ago, fascist Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem took a propaganda tour of the facility, escorted by guards the entire time. There is no question that if the Trump administration demanded it, Abrego Garcia could be back on a plane to the US within hours. In response to the government’s refusal to carry out her or the Supreme Court’s orders, on Tuesday US District Judge Paula Xinis ordered four US officials to provide documentation and answer questions under oath about what steps they had taken to comply with her previous orders. Xinis set forward an expedited discovery period, warning that there would be “no vacations” and that it would conclude by April 28, at which time Xinis might consider holding one, or more, Trump administration official in contempt. Xinis said: To date, what the record shows is that nothing has been done. Nothing. I asked for reports from individuals with direct knowledge and I’ve gotten very little information of any value. US attorney Drew Ensign, arguing on behalf of the Trump administration, said that the government was providing updates by pointing to the White House meeting held Monday between President Donald Trump and El Salvadoran dictator Nayib Bukele in which the latter said he would not return Abrego Garcia because he was a “terrorist.” Xinis said the White House meeting was irrelevant to her order. “No press release is going to move the court,” she said.
Attorneys for mistakenly deported man bash Trump for skirting SCOTUS ruling - Attorneys for a Maryland man mistakenly deported to a Salvadoran prison said the Trump administration has run afoul of a Supreme Court order by failing to even attempt to secure his return. The Supreme Court last week determined the Trump administration must “facilitate” the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national now held in the country’s most notorious prison. But attorneys for Abrego Garcia contend the Trump administration has not even tried to do so. “The Government contends that the term ‘facilitate’ is limited to ‘remov[ing] any domestic obstacles that would otherwise impede the alien’s ability to return here.’ Not so. The Supreme Court ordered the Government ‘to ‘facilitate’ Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador,’” lawyers wrote in a Tuesday brief. “To give any meaning to the Supreme Court’s order, the Government should at least be required to request the release of Abrego Garcia. To date, the Government has not done so.” Attorneys for the Justice Department and Abrego Garcia are set to appear before U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis later Tuesday. On Monday, attorneys for the Justice Department flouted an order from Xinis to provide an update on Abrego Garcia’s whereabouts and efforts to secure his return, instead submitting an affidavit from a Department of Homeland Security official suggesting they were not obligated to do so. The Trump administration’s position on the case was made clear in an Oval Office meeting Monday alongside Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. “That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him. That’s not up to us,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said. “The Supreme Court ruled, President, that if El Salvador wants to return him … we would facilitate it, meaning provide a plane.”
Pam Bondi says Kilmar Abrego Garcia 'not coming back' - Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Trump administration failed to take “one extra step of paperwork” before it mistakenly deported a Maryland man, adding that nonetheless Kilmar Abrego Garcia is “not coming back to our country.” The comments were the latest example of officials under President Trump digging in despite a Supreme Court order requiring them to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return.Bondi also repeated numerous claims about Abrego Garcia’s ties to MS-13 that his family has denied and for which there is a conflicting court record.“He is not coming back to our country. President Bukele said he was not sending him back. That’s the end of the story,” she told reporters at a press conference Wednesday, referring to the Salvadorian leader. “If he wanted to send him back, we would give him a plane ride back. There was no situation ever where he was going to stay in this country. None, none.”Bondi has previously argued the Supreme Court’s order to facilitate his return meant only that the government would need to supply a plane if El Salvador chooses to return him.Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Salvadoran national who fled the country as a teenager to escape gang violence, was protected from deportation by an immigration judge in 2019. The gang Barrio 18 threatened to kill him when trying to extract money from his mother’s pupusa business.The court record shows numerous issues with the government’s assertion he is a gang member.
Warren blasts Trump administration over Abrego Garcia case: We don’t ‘disappear people’ - Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Thursday went after the Trump administration over the case of a Maryland man who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador, Kilmar Abrego Garcia.“They want to have the American people say it’s OK to just disappear people. And somehow they think, if they can make up lies about him, if they can do whatever they want, then the answer will be the American people will settle for this,” Warren said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”“We do not disappear people in the United States,” the Massachusetts Democrat added. “Because here’s the thing, if they can disappear Mr. Abrego Garcia, then they can disappear you.”Abrego Garcia’s deportation came despite a U.S. immigration judge’s order from 2019 specifically protecting him from deportation to El Salvador, which is his home country.The Trump administration has argued that Abrego Garcia was illegally in the country and has presented him as a menace to society.- “He’s not a Maryland man. He’s part of foreign terrorist organization. He’s a member of MS-13, who, as you laid out in your monologue, came to this country and committed just gang acts,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said Monday.Salvadoran president mocks Van Hollen, Abrego Garcia meeting - Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele took to social media late Thursday to mock Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s (D-Md.) meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported by the Trump administration last month due to an “administrative error.”Van Hollen cited concern about the status of Abrego Garcia, who fled El Salvador as a teenager due to persecution and was living in Maryland, being housed as an inmate at the Central American country’s most notorious prison as a reason for his visit. He said he would conduct a personal wellness check on the father, who had been approved to stay in the U.S. under a 2019 protection order.The Maryland Democrat was denied an opportunity to speak and meet with the wrongly deported man a day earlier.“Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the “death camps” & “torture”, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador,” Bukele wrote Thursday in a post on the social platform X.His message was accompanied with images of the two embracing in a space with tables and water. Abrego Garcia was in civilian clothes. “Now that he’s been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador’s custody,” Bukele wrote in a subsequent post. Van Hollen’s trip was sparked by concern among Democrats about a lack of due process for Abrego Garcia and the administration’s refusal to abide by a Supreme Court order to facilitate his return to the U.S.
Trump says he's open to sending violent criminals who are US citizens to El Salvador prison -- President Trump on Monday indicated he would be open to sending American citizens who are violent criminals to El Salvador to be held in a notorious prison there, telling reporters his administration is studying law on the matter. “If they’re criminals, and if they hit people with baseball bats over the head that happen to be 90 years old, if they rape 87-year-old women in Coney Island, Brooklyn, yeah. Yeah that includes them,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “Why, do you think there’s a special category of person? They’re as bad as anyone that comes in. We have bad ones, too. And, I’m all for it.” Trump did not specify which cases he was referring to. There is a widely reported case of an 82-year-old Brooklyn woman who was raped in her home. The suspect was an 18-year-old at the time and was found guilty a year later. Trump’s comments came during a meeting with El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele. Bukele has worked with the Trump administration to take in hundreds of deportees, including many not from El Salvador, and hold them in a massive prison that has drawn criticism from human rights watchdogs. Trump framed the potential deportation of violent American citizens as a way to save money. “If it’s a homegrown criminal, I have no problem,” Trump said. “Now, we’re studying the laws right now. Pam is studying. If we can do that, that’s good. And I’m talking about violent people. I’m talking about really bad people. Really bad people. Every bit as bad as the ones coming in.” Experts have said that there is no legal way for the government to deport legal U.S. citizens to another country. Still, Trump and other administration officials have raised the idea multiple times in recent months, sparking alarm among Democrats and legal experts.
ICE agents smash car window to apprehend Guatemalan immigrant worker in Massachusetts - On Monday, federal immigration agents smashed the car window of Guatemalan immigrant Juan Francisco Méndez and arrested him on a street in New Bedford, Massachusetts, as his wife looked on. Méndez, 29, has been taken to a detention facility in New Hampshire. He has been in the US lawfully for two years, and he and his wife have no criminal record. His wife, Marilú Domingo Ortiz, was granted asylum after fleeing persecution in Guatemala and, because the two are legally married, Méndez has received the same protection. They have a nine-year-old son who is in school. A smartphone video taken from inside their car shows a group of police officers—apparently Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, at least one of whom was in plain clothes—demanding that Méndez and his wife, Marilú, open their door or roll down their window so they can “talk, just talk.” Speaking in Spanish through the car window, Méndez says, “My lawyer is on her way,” and “I will only speak when my lawyer arrives.” The officer then says, “Tell the lawyer to hurry up.” Juan replies, “She says she’ll be here in half an hour,” and then carefully places both hands on the steering wheel. Marilú, who is on the phone with an attorney, asks the officers through the window, “Excuse me, do you have a warrant?” and “Do you have an arrest warrant?” When the officers do not respond, Marilú asks, “Can I leave?” to which one officer responds quickly, “No.” Also speaking in Spanish, the individual in plain clothes approaches the car door and says, “I can open the door. Do you understand me?” and Marilú says, “Yes.” The officer then threatens, “Do you want it hard or easy?” to which Marilú replies, “Yes, but when my lawyer is present.” One of the officers then approaches the rear passenger side door with a large pick-axe and smashes the rear door window while the other officers open the front passenger door where Marilú is sitting. At this point, there is a break in the video. When it resumes, Marilú appears saying in tears, “They pulled us out violently. They treated us very harshly.”
Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi arrested by DHS agents during naturalization interview -Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi was arrested by federal agents Monday while he was in a naturalization interview at an immigration office in Vermont. Mahdawi, a Palestinian student and green-card holder, was arrested by agents with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Colchester, Vt., according to a court filing.Mahdawi was a leader in the pro-Palestinian protests last spring, making him the latest such activist targeted by the Trump administration. The first and most prominent foreign-born student demonstrator now in immigration custody, Mahmoud Khalil, also attended Columbia.“The Trump administration detained Mohsen Mahdawi in direct retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians and because of his identity as a Palestinian. His detention is an attempt to silence those who speak out against the atrocities in Gaza. It is also unconstitutional,” attorney Luna Droubi said. The court filing said Mahdawi was targeted by a pro-Israel organization called Betar US, which said on social media that “visa holder Mohsen Mahdawi is on our deport list.”
US Had No Evidence Linking Detained Tufts Student to Antisemitism or Terrorism - The US government had no evidence that Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk had engaged in “antisemitic activities” or made public comments in support of US-designated terror organizations before she was detained by ICE agents, The Washington Post reported on Sunday.The report said that days before Ozturk’s arrest, the State Department determined that Secretary of State Marco Rubio didn’t have the authority to revoke her student visa under an authority the administration is attempting to use to deport critics of Israel.Ozturk, a PhD student, was targeted for co-authoring an op-ed last year that called for Tufts University to divest from Israel and “acknowledge the Palestinian genocide.”The Post report said that the Department of Homeland Security had recommended to the State Department that Ozturk’s visa be revoked under an obscure provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 that allows deportation of someone if the secretary of state has “reasonable grounds to believe” their presence would have “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”The DHS said that Ozturk had engaged in “anti-Israel activism” and referred to the op-ed she co-authored. Ozturk was first targeted by pro-Israel groups, including the Canary Mission, which doxxes students and professors who are critical of Israel. The Canary Mission’s page on Ozturklists only the op-ed as an example of her “anti-Israel activism.”The State Department found there was not sufficient evidence to deport Ozturk under the provision DHS recommended. Instead, the State Department said she could be deported using another authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act that allows for the revocation of a visa at the secretary of state’s discretion, according to the Post.Ozturk was detained in Massachusetts on March 25 and is now being held in an ICE facility in Louisiana. In a declaration obtained by NBC News on Sunday, Ozturk said she was being held in “inhumane” and “unsafe” conditions and that her asthma was not being properly treated.Footage of Ozturk being arrested by masked federal agents provoked widespread condemnation of the Trump administration’s crackdown on speech critical of Israel. Ozturk said in the declaration that she was terrified during the arrest and thought the agents were “private individuals” who might kill her.
Social Security to mark immigrants as dead to force them to “self-deport” - In one of the most ruthless assaults on immigrant workers in American history, the Trump administration has launched a policy that weaponizes the Social Security Administration’s “Death Master File” to erase the legal existence of thousands of living people. This is not mere administrative cruelty. It is a campaign of financial assassination, designed to strip immigrant workers of their livelihoods, sever their access to essential services, and force them to “self-deport” through economic strangulation. The list already includes over 6,300 individuals, and officials admit it will likely expand. Among them are minors and individuals with no criminal record. While the administration claims these people are “suspected criminals” or “terrorists,” even internal agency staff have found no evidence to support those allegations. These are workers who have paid into Social Security, Medicaid and unemployment insurance programs now used as weapons against them. The scheme targets immigrants who were granted temporary legal status under the Biden administration, a status that carried no path to citizenship and no permanent protection, only the illusion of security until the political winds shifted. Trump has already started revoking their temporary status.. Their real “crime” was allowing themselves to be registered and tracked in federal databases built by Democratic administrations, which have long relied on immigrant labor while denying them lasting political rights or protections. Now, under Trump, these records have been repurposed into a purge list. Through this sinister manipulation, the government has begun reclassifying living immigrants as “dead,” transferring their names and Social Security numbers into a system meant for the deceased. The consequences are catastrophic: without a valid Social Security number, one cannot legally work, open a bank account, sign a lease, access healthcare or claim any benefit. In the eyes of the financial system, they cease to exist. The government’s intent is clear: dismantle the Social Security system as part of its attacks on fundamental past gains such as Medicare, Medicaid and other vital social programs. It starts by erasing these immigrants on paper and forcing them out of the country by depriving them of every means of survival after years of exploiting their labor. As Leland Dudek, Trump’s acting commissioner of Social Security, admitted in an internal email, the financial lives of these immigrants will be “terminated.” Martin O’Malley, Social Security commissioner under Biden, said, “It’s tantamount to financial murder.” There is no due process, no hearing, no appeal before one’s life is wiped from the records.
Legal group sues Costa Rica alleging the rights of 81 children deported by Trump were violated (AP) — A group of human rights lawyers is suing Costa Rica, alleging the Central American nation violated the rights of dozens of migrant children by detaining them in a rural camp for nearly two months after they were deported from the U.S. in February. The children, some as young as 2, are part of a group of hundreds of migrants from mostly Asian countries — Afghanistan, China, Russia and others — who were deported from the U.S. as part of a wider effort by the Trump administration to ramp up deportations. Many had hoped to seek asylum in the U.S. and expressed fear over returning to their own countries. Instead, they were dropped in Costa Rica and Panama, where they don’t speak the local language. The countries were originally intended as a kind of deportation layover, but the migrants have now spent 50 days in limbo. Critics described it as a way for the U.S. to export its deportation process, while human rights groups have warned that the two countries were turning into a “black hole” for deportees. In Costa Rica, around 200 migrants, 81 of them children, were driven out to a rural migrant processing center along the Costa Rica-Panama border and detained in a former factory building. The lawsuit from the Global Strategic Litigation Council and other human right groups was filed before the U.N. committee that monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on Thursday night, and alleges that Costa Rica violated the convention. Silvia Serna Roman, one of the attorneys filing the suit, said the migrants were held in detention without legal status, with no access to educational services or mental health services in their native language. It has fueled concern the long-term impacts that extended detention could have on the children as many parents have reported their children appearing isolated or sad. “The kids are in a very crucial part of their development, and they are all fleeing complicated contexts in their countries. And now they’re subjected to detention for different, but long periods of time and inhumane treatment,” Serna Roman said Friday. “The parents are concerned.” Serna Roman said migrants have had little access to legal counsel. The Costa Rican government has said migrants could leave the detention facility if they agree to return to their countries of origin or seek asylum in Costa Rica. But the lawyer said many families fear they would have nowhere to go and potentially end up on the street, so they’ve remained in “indefinite detention” in the facility known as CATEM.
Supreme Court temporarily stops Alien Enemies Act deportations --The Supreme Court early Saturday halted the administration’s ability to use the Alien Enemies Act to swiftly deport migrants to El Salvador who are being detained in portions of Texas, for now. The emergency order temporarily blocks the deportations until the high court resolves the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) emergency appeal, which was filed hours earlier over concerns that more deportation flights were imminent.Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, two of the court’s leading conservatives, dissented. The ACLU simultaneously asked several courts to immediately intervene Friday, warning that the Venezuelan migrants could otherwise be given life sentences in a notorious Salvadoran megaprison without the opportunity for judicial review. “The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court,” the Supreme Court’s order reads. The class extends to any migrant detained in the Northern District of Texas who is being removed under the 18th century Alien Enemies Act. It does not apply elsewhere, though judges overseeing separate cases have temporarily blocked deportations for those detained in the Southern District of New York, the District of Colorado and the Southern District of Texas. The 1798 law enables migrants to be summarily deported amid a declared war or an “invasion” by a foreign nation. The law has been leveraged just three previous times, all during wars, but Trump contends he can use it because the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is effectively invading the U.S.The administration first invoked the law last month to deport more than 100 migrants to a Salvadoran megaprison. On Friday, the ACLU pulled out all the stops as it raised alarm that another wave of deportations was actively underway, saying the administration was already busing migrants to the airport. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign pushed back at a lower court hearing, however, saying no deportation flights were scheduled for Friday or Saturday. “But I have also been told to say that they reserve the right to remove people tomorrow,” Ensign cautioned. The ACLU took an aggressive approach once it became aware of the deportations, giving U.S. District Judge James Hendrix, a Trump appointee in Texas who is overseeing the case, just minutes to act before the civil rights group began appealing Friday afternoon. Criticizing that short window, a three-judge 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel unanimously denied the group’s appeal as premature early Saturday. “We do not doubt the diligence and ability of the respected district judge in this case to act expeditiously when circumstances warrant,” the 5th Circuit’s unsigned ruling reads. “Petitioners insist that they tried to proceed before the district court in the first instance, and that the district court simply ‘refus[ed]’ to act. But the district court’s order today indicates that Petitioners gave the court only 42 minutes to act.” The 5th Circuit panel comprised of Trump appointees Judge James Ho and Judge Cory Wilson, and Judge Irma Carillo Ramirez, an appointee of former President Biden.
Trump taps Mark Levin, Henry McMaster to ‘revamped’ Homeland Security council - President Trump announced Thursday that he has picked Fox News contributor Mark Levin, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) and other conservative allies to serve on a “revamped” Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC).“Under Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s leadership, HSAC will work hard on developing new Policies and Strategies that will help us secure our Border, deport Illegal Criminal Thugs, stop the flow of Fentanyl and other illegal drugs that are killing our Citizens, and MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, saying the HSAC “is comprised of Top Experts in their field, who are highly respected by their peers.” Trump didn’t elaborate on how the group will be “revamped” from its past iterations dating back to former President George W. Bush’s administration. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) didn’t immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.Levin, the host of Fox News’s “Life, Liberty & Levin,” responded to the news in a post on the social platform X: “What an honor! Thank you, Mr. President!”Trump has also tapped former New York Police Department detective Bo Dietl and Florida state Sen. Joseph Gruters (R), an officer of the Republican National Committee, for his overhauled panel, the president said.Gruters, who is running to become Florida’s chief financial officer next year with Trump’s support, is among the president’s closest political allies in the Sunshine State, where he served as a state co-chair of Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Trump soundly won the GOP primary race in 2016 and carried Florida in the general election.The Biden administration leaned heavily on leaders in the private sector and law enforcement groups for its HSAC. Under then-Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the panel drafted advisory reports on combating child exploitation and creating “next generation work environment” for the thousands of DHS employees, among other topics.
South Korea to Leverage LNG and Shipbuilding in U.S. Tariff Talks - South Korea will leverage shipbuilding capabilities and the potential to buy more U.S. LNG in upcoming talks on the tariffs next week, South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said on Thursday. The tariff on South Korea, which U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the so-called “liberation day” on April 2, was at 25%, lower than for some other Asian countries but much higher than a baseline 10% tariff. The so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ were suspended last week for 90 days, during which countries plan to plead their cases for tariff relief. In South Korea’s case, LNG purchases and shipbuilding are set to be the focus of the talks expected next week. “The projects President Donald Trump himself mentioned are shipbuilding and LNG,” Cho said, as quoted by Korean news agency Yonhap “These are sectors that require countries like South Korea or Japan, so we have leverage in our own way,” South Korea’s top diplomat said. Delegations from many Asian countries are heading to Washington D.C. these days to discuss the U.S. tariffs, now suspended for 90 days, which are the highest for economies in Asia and Southeast Asia. Most Asian countries are racing to pledgeincreased imports of U.S. energy to avoid the high tariffs slapped on them in early April.Thailand is looking to import higher volumes of American energy as a way to convince the U.S. Administration not to slap high tariffs on Thai goods sold in the United States.Earlier this week, Indonesia, threatened with a 32% tariff, said it would offer to buy an additional $10 billion worth of American oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).South Asian nation Pakistan is actively considering the idea of importing U.S. crude oil for the first time to seek a reduction of its trade surplus with America.South Korea is reportedly looking at more LNG imports to get Washington to drop the tariffs.
Indonesia to Offer to Buy $10 Billion of Additional U.S. Energy Goods - As Indonesia seeks to negotiate a reduction of a planned tariff of 32% on Indonesian goods sold in the United States, the government of Southeast Asia’s biggest economy will offer to buy an additional $10 billion worth of American oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Indonesia was slapped with one of the highest tariffs - 32% - in the “liberation day” tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. These tariffs were suspended last week for 90 days, during which the Trump Administration expects most countries to come pleading their cases and promising to boost their imports of U.S. goods to avoid high tariffs. Indonesia’s Energy Ministry has recommended an increase in the import quota for U.S. LPG and higher imports of U.S. crude oil, Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia told local media on Tuesday. With the offer of $10 billion more U.S. energy imports, Indonesia plans to buy total U.S. goods worth between $18 billion and $19 billion to eliminate its trade surplus with America. Indonesian officials are heading to the U.S. to discuss tariffs and how to potentially buy their way out of them. Indonesia’s imports of U.S. crude oil are estimated to have averaged just 13,000 barrels per day (bpd) last year, out of the total 306,000 bpd crude imports, according to Kpler data cited by Reuters. Indonesia is just one of the countries looking to buy their way out of steep tariffs with deals to purchase American energy products. South Asian nation Pakistan is actively considering the idea of importing U.S. crude oil for the first time to seek a reduction of its trade surplus with America. South Korea is reportedly looking at more LNG imports to get Washington to drop the tariffs, while India is weighing the option to scrap its import tax on American liquefied natural gas to increase U.S. LNG imports and reduce its trade surplus with the United States.
Pakistan Weighs First-Ever U.S. Oil Imports to Reduce Trade Surplus - Pakistan is actively considering the idea of importing U.S. crude oil for the first time to seek a reduction of its trade surplus with America and avoid one of the highest tariffs – currently paused – on its goods sold in the United States.Crude oil is one of the products that Pakistan is actively exploring to buy from the U.S. to appease President Donald Trump, a Pakistani government source and an executive at a local refinery told Reuters on Tuesday.Pakistan imported about 140,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil last year, mostly from the major OPEC producers in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Now, the South Asian country is weighing the possibility of buying U.S. crude for the first time ever to avoid a 29% tariff on its goods sold in America, its top trade partner. The 29% tariff on Pakistani goods was announced by President Trump on the so-called “liberation day,” but was paused for 90 days last week, as were all additional tariffs on all other countries except China.A Pakistani delegation is heading to Washington D.C. these days to negotiatetariffs and could use a minerals deal as leverage, government officials told the BBC on Monday.Crude oil “is one of the products being reviewed ahead of a delegation leaving for the U.S. to talk about tariffs,” the government source directly involved with the proposal to buy more U.S. crude told Reuters.Pakistan’s idea is to buy crude oil from the United States equivalent to the value of its current imports of oil and refined products, which is estimated at around $1 billion, the refinery executive told Reuters.Pakistan is just one of the countries looking to buy their way out of steep tariffs with deals to purchase American energy products. South Korea, for example, is reportedlylooking at more LNG imports to get Washington to drop the tariffs, while India is weighing the option to scrap its import tax on American liquefied natural gas to increase U.S. LNG imports and reduce its trade surplus with the United States.
China Halts U.S. LNG Imports Amid Tariff War - China hasn’t imported liquefied natural gas from the United States since early February, as the tariff war hit energy trade and could have long-term consequences for U.S. LNG export contracts.The last LNG cargo to arrive in China from America was a tanker from Corpus Christi, which docked in the southern Chinese province of Fujian on February 6, according to shipping data cited by the Financial Times.The Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods, including energy products, and the broader trade war between the world’s two biggest economies could have long-term consequences on the ability of new U.S. LNG export projects to attract anchor offtake commitments, analysts warn.“I do not think Chinese LNG importers will ever contract any new US LNG,” Anne-Sophie Corbeau, a gas specialist at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, told FT.Since the U.S.-China trade war escalated, China’s LNG buyers have been reselling the cargoes they are buying from the U.S. as Chinese tariffs on American goods are raising the costs of U.S. LNG imports.LNG import demand in China has been weaker this year amid comfortably full winter inventories. Chinese LNG imports are expected to drop this year, according to the latest estimates from BloombergNEF. China is set to see the first annual decline in LNG imports since 2022.The trade war and the new tariffs on U.S. LNG are driving major Chinese LNG buyers to stop imports from the United States and resell the cargoes they have already bought or contracted. Following the tariffs, Chinese LNG buyers with long-term supply contracts with U.S. producers have started reselling the cargoes to Europe, Bloomberg reported, citing trading sources. What’s more, Chinese traders have grown cold towards new long-term commitments for future supply from the United States, instead seeking long-term deals with gas producers in the Middle East and the Asia Pacific.
China hits back at Trump by tightening exports of rare earths - China has taken a significant step in the intensifying economic war with the US by moving to tighten controls on the export of rare earth minerals and magnets critical for many advanced technologies in auto production, electronics and military equipment. Restrictions had already been imposed on the exports of some rare earths as the Trump tariff war has escalated, but the latest moves appear to be the most significant retaliatory measure so far. According to a report in the New York Times by its Beijing bureau chief Keith Bradsher published yesterday, shipments of magnets “essential for assembling everything from cars and drones to robots and missiles, have been halted at many Chinese ports while the Chinese government drafts a new regulatory system. Once in place, the new system could permanently prevent supplies from reaching certain companies, including American military contractors.” On April 4, two days after Trump’s announcement of his “reciprocal tariff” war—since suspended for all countries for 90 days except China for which tariffs have been raised in 145 percent—Beijing ordered restrictions on the export of six heavy rare earth metals refined in China and rare earth magnets. The magnets are crucial for the production of electric motors for cars and other products. China produces around 90 percent of the 200,000 tonnes of rare earth magnets each year. Japan produces a large portion of the rest while a small quantity, dependent on China for raw material supplies, comes from Germany. The Times article cited comments by Daniel Pickard, an adviser to the US trade representative and the Commerce Department on critical minerals. “Does the export control or ban potentially have severe effects in the US? Yes,” he said. James Litinsky, the chief executive of MP Materials which supplies rare earths, said supplies to military contractors were of particular concern. “Drones and robotics are widely considered the future of warfare, and based on everything we are seeing, the critical inputs for our future supply chain are shut down.” MP Materials owns the only sole rare earths mine in the US, Mountain Pass in California.
China freezes Boeing jet sales in trade tit-for-tat with Trump: Report -China has ordered its airlines to ditch jet deliveries from Boeing following days of back-and-forth with President Trump over hikes in tariffs. The president’s 145 percent levy on Chinese goods drove the decision, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the stalemate on Tuesday. As a result, the company’s stock saw a 1.46 percent drop as of midday on the New York Stock Exchange.Prior to tariff tensions, China cut Boeing deliveries by 84 percent over the past five years compared to sales in the previous five-year period, The Wall Street Journal reported. The stark decline came after the U.S. manufacturer’s fleet saw two 737 Max plane crashes occur in 2018 and 2019. Boeing and the White House did not respond to The Hill’s request for comment on paused transactions, however, Trump did address the matter on Truth Social.“Interestingly, they just reneged on the big Boeing deal, saying that they will ‘not take possession’ of fully committed to aircraft,” the president wrote in a Tuesday post, where he also slammed the nation for being “brutal” to American farmers.
Tesla Reportedly Facing Trade Disruption On Cybercab, Semi-Truck Parts From China -The latest supply chain disruption report comes from Reuters, which claims that shipments of Tesla components from China—intended for its Cybercab and Semi—will be suspended. The report, based on a single unnamed source, has not been confirmed by Tesla or Elon Musk on X. Here's more color on Tesla's trade disruption, as described by the source: Tesla was ready to absorb the additional costs when Trump imposed the 34% tariff on Chinese goods but could not do so when the tariff went beyond that, leaving shipping plans suspended, said the person, who declined to be named as the matter is private. Trump raised additional tariffs to 84% on April 9 and has since increased that to 125%, bringing the total tariffs on Chinese goods exported to the U.S. to 145%. The company was scheduled to start receiving component shipments in upcoming months with the goal of starting trial production of the two models in October and mass production in 2026, the person said, with Cybercab to be produced in Texas and Semi in Nevada. The source continued: Tesla has for the past two years been increasing the proportion of parts sourced from North America for its U.S. factories in view of potential U.S. tariffs on China, the source and a second person said. No specific details were provided about which parts from Chinese factories were affected, but the disruption has reportedly thrown Tesla's production plans for the two vehicles set to enter series production near-term into disarray.
China-founded e-commerce sites Temu and Shein say they’re raising prices due to tariffs --(AP) — China-founded e-commerce sites Temu and Shein say they plan to raise prices for U.S. customers starting next week, a ripple effect from President Donald Trump’s attempts to correct the trade imbalance between the world’s two largest economies by imposing a sky-high tariff on goods shipped from China. Temu, which is owned by the Chinese e-commerce company PDD Holdings, and Shein, which is now based in Singapore, said in separate but nearly identical notices that their operating expenses have gone up “due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs.” Both companies said they would be making “price adjustments” starting April 25, although neither provided details about the size of the increases. It was unclear why the two rivals posted almostidentical statements on their shopping sites. Since launching in the United States, Shein and Temu have given Western retailers a run for their money by offering products at ultra-low prices, coupled with avalanches of digital or influencer advertising. The 145% tariff Trump slapped on most products made in China, coupled with his decision to end a customs exemption that allows goods worth less than $800 to come into the U.S. duty-free, has dented the business models of the two platforms. E-commerce companies have been the biggest users of the widely used exemption. Trump signed an executive order this month to eliminate the “de minimis provision” for goods from China and Hong Kong starting May 2, when they will be subject to the 145% import tax. As many as 4 million low-value parcels — most of them originating in China — arrive in the U.S. every day under the soon-to-be canceled provision.
Hong Kong post office will stop shipping parcels to the US over tariffs (AP) — Hong Kong’s post office will stop shipping small parcels to the United States after Washington announced plans to charge tariffs on small-value parcels from the southern Chinese city, the government said Wednesday. The U.S. government earlier announced that it would end a customs exception allowing small-value parcels from Hong Kong to enter the U.S. without tax, slapping a 120% tariff on them starting from May 2. The “de minimis” exemption currently allows shipments that are worth less than $800 to go tax-free. A government statement said Hongkong Post would not collect tariffs on behalf of Washington, and will suspend accepting non-airmail parcels containing goods destined for the U.S. on Wednesday, since items shipped by sea take more time. It will accept airmail parcels until Apr. 27. “For sending items to the US, the public in Hong Kong should be prepared to pay exorbitant and unreasonable fees due to the U.S.’s unreasonable and bullying acts,” the government wrote. It will continue accepting mail that contains only documents. Hong Kong, is caught in the middle of the trade disputes between the U.S. and China despite being a free port. The former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997, has trade and customs policies different from mainland China’s, under the semi-autonomy granted by Beijing during the handover. But Washington began treating it as part of China after Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020, and has applied the 145% tariffs imposed on Chinese imports.
Lutnick: Smartphone tariff exemptions are temporary -The Trump administration’s move to exempt smartphones, computers and other electronics from sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs is only a temporary measure, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday, indicating those devices would be covered by upcoming sector-based tariffs. “This is not like a permanent sort of exemption. [Trump’s] just clarifying that these are not available to be negotiated away by countries. These are things that are national security, that we need to be made in America,” Lutnick told ABC’s “This Week.” Customs and Border Protection, which handles the collection of tariffs, posted a notice late Friday that certain electronics would be exempted from “reciprocal” tariffs imposed on other nations, including China. But Lutnick told ABC News that the excluded devices, such as smartphones, computers, routers and other electronics, will likely be covered under tariffs President Trump is set to impose on semiconductors. “So, what he’s doing is he’s saying they’re exempt from the reciprocal tariffs but they’re included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two,” Lutnick said. “So, these are coming soon. You shouldn’t think this is really outside of it. Really think of it as being included in the semiconductor space.” Lutnick argued the tariffs on semiconductors would be part of an effort to bring manufacturing of those electronics back to the United States. The initial exemptions appeared to be a break for consumers, who were facing the possibility of paying higher prices on electronics because of steep tariffs imposed on China. It was also an apparent win for companies like Apple, which manufactures many of its products in China. The decision to exempt certain products only to add tariffs on them later could also add to some confusion around the Trump administration’s rollout of its tariff policy. Trump has in recent months announced tariffs on Canada and Mexico only to delay them for a month. He then imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico, but then announced many products covered under a 2020 trade agreement would be exempt. The president also announced a 10 percent baseline tariff on all imports, as well as higher “reciprocal” tariffs on dozens of countries, including Japan, South Korea, China, India, Thailand and the European Union. But Trump has since announced all countries other than China will have their “reciprocal” tariffs reduced to 10 percent for 90 days to allow for negotiations.
Trump tariff hikes send global trade into reverse - Global trade will go into reverse this year as a result of the tariff war launched by US president Trump, according to a report issued yesterday by the World Trade Organisation. The WTO said the outlook for global trade had “deteriorated sharply” because of the US tariff hikes and the “trade policy uncertainty” they have created. It estimated there would be a 0.2 percent contraction for 2025, compared to an increase in trade of 2.9 percent in 2024. It added that trade growth could have been as much as 2.7 percent this year had tariffs remained low. The WTO forecasts take into account the 90-day pause Trump announced on the imposition of “reciprocal tariffs,” which range between 30-50 percent for a number of countries. The contraction may be even more significant than is indicated in the report, which has been issued just two weeks after Trump’s “liberation day” announcement. This is because of both the fact that the “reciprocal tariffs” may well go ahead after the pause and the uncertainty generated by the tariff war. “Risks to the forecast include the implementation of the currently suspended reciprocal tariffs by the United States, as well as a broader spillover of trade policy uncertainty beyond US-linked trade relationships,” the WTO said. It forecast that if the reciprocal tariffs were enacted this would bring a further reduction in global trade by 0.6 percentage points. And if trade policy uncertainty spread this would bring a further reduction of 0.8 percentage points leading to a “1.5 percent decline in world merchandise trade volume in 2025.” With the imposition of a 145 percent tariff by the US against China, the WTO expects trade between the two countries, the world’s number one and number two economies respectively, to contract by 80-90 percent. WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who presented the report, said the “decoupling” of the US and China was a “phenomenon that is really worrying to me” and would have “far-reaching consequences.” At this stage, no one can predict exactly what those consequences will be. But such a “decoupling” between major economies has only ever occurred before in times of war.
Donald Trump considering tariff exemptions 'to help some of the car companies' - President Trump indicated Monday he is considering tariff exemptions to give relief to car companies as they work to reconfigure their supply chains, marking the latest potential adjustment to his tariff policies. “I’m looking at something to help some of the car companies where they’re switching to parts that were made in Canada, Mexico and other places,” Trump said when asked in the Oval Office about “short-lived” tariff exemptions. “And they need a little bit of time. Because they’re going to make them here. But they need a little bit of time. So I’m talking about things like that.” Asked about potential exemptions for Apple products, Trump did not get into specifics but defended his shifting tariff announcements as a sign of flexibility. “Look, I’m a very flexible person. I don’t change my mind, but I’m flexible. And you have to be. You just can’t have a wall and you’ll only go — no, sometimes you have to go around it, under it or above it,” Trump said before name-dropping the Apple CEO. “There’ll be maybe things coming up. I speak to Tim Cook; I helped Tim Cook recently, and that whole business. I don’t want to hurt anybody.” The president’s suggestion of looming exceptions to help car companies would be the latest adjustment to what has already been a constantly changing approach to tariffs.Trump has in recent months announced tariffs on Canada and Mexico only to delay them for a month. He then imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico, but then announced many products covered under a 2020 trade agreement, including automobiles, would be exempt. The president also announced a 10 percent baseline tariff on all imports, as well as higher “reciprocal” tariffs on dozens of countries, including Japan, South Korea, China, India, Thailand and the European Union. But Trump has since announced all countries other than China will have their “reciprocal” tariffs reduced to 10 percent for 90 days to allow for negotiations. On top of that, Trump has announced sector-specific tariffs on automobiles and steel and aluminum. He told reporters Sunday that additional tariffs on semiconductors, which could cover various electronic devices, would be announced in the coming days.
Trump’s fluctuating tariffs stir confusion in tech industry -- The Trump administration’s back-and-forth moves on tariffs for technology products are stirring confusion in a sector heavily reliant on global supply chains. Tech companies breathed a sigh of relief last Friday when the Trump administration revealed electronics would be exempt from the “reciprocal” tariffs, but by the end of the weekend, President Trump signaled many of the same products will still be subject to expected sector-based tariffs. The dizzying tariff changes are driving uncertainty for the technology industry, which is being forced to make manufacturing and supply chain decisions based on evolving goalposts. “It’s creating an awful lot of chaos at the moment. A lot of uncertainty,” said Rob Handfield, a professor of supply chain management at North Carolina State University. The state of play of Trump’s trade war changed a number of times over the past month, though the past two weeks saw some of the most drastic changes when it comes to the tech sector. Trump imposed higher tariffs on nearly all of the U.S.’s trading partners last Wednesday. Later that day, he issued a 90-day pause on the higher rates after global market shares plummeted and dropped those tariffs for most countries to a baseline rate of 10 percent Nonetheless, many tech companies were not entirely in the clear as many rely on manufacturing sites and supply chains in China, which was not included in the pause amid a larger trade war with Trump.
Tech industry faces major uncertainty as Trump threatens semiconductor tariffs - President Trump’s potential tariffs on semiconductors are stoking alarm within the technology sector as companies brace for ripple effects across the industry and its competitive standing on a global stage. The Trump administration launched an investigation this week into the effects on national security of importing semiconductor technology, just one day after the president hinted tariffs on semiconductors could be coming soon amid his broader trade war. Semiconductors power most of the technology products of today’s ecosystem, and industry observers warned the cost could trickle down to consumers should Trump decide to impose an import tax on the chips or the products that host them. “There’s going to be an immediate, short-term supply shock if the … prices of chips are increased as a direct result of tariffs,” said Sean Murphy, the executive vice president of policy for Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), a trade association. “That’s going to have a ripple or cascading effect across the industry,” he added, “Chips go into everything we take for granted.” It is still unclear how broad the semiconductor tariffs could be. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested earlier this week the tariff could apply to products with chips such as smartphones and computers, not just the chips themselves. “Depending on how those different categories are defined, we’re talking about a very large swath of trade potentially, and that could have a really profound effect on the economy,” Murphy said. The tech sector was thrown for a loop over the weekend when guidance posted by the Customs and Border Protection stated about 20 products, including smartphones, computers, routers and semiconductor chips, are exempt from the “reciprocal” tariffs. Many major tech companies like Apple still manufacture and assemble some of their most popular products in China, which imposed a 125 retaliatory tariff on U.S. goods. But two days later, Lutnick stirred confusion when he stated the exemptions are temporary and hinted forthcoming tariffs on semiconductors that will apply to other electronics too.
American CEOs largely against Donald Trump tariffs, survey shows --A large swath of chief executives in the U.S. shares a lack of support for President Trump’s latest tariffs and believe they will hurt their company, according to a recent survey.The poll, conducted by Chief Executive magazine, found that 67 of those surveyed did not agree with the president’s tariff agenda and 76 percent believe the sweeping import taxes will hurt their companiesAccording to the outlet, the results also show the lowest confidence in the business market since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 represents “poor” and 10 means “excellent,” the more tan 300 participants ranked the current business climate at 4.6, down from 5.0 in March. “Tariffs and the uncertainty of next steps that will be taken by President Trump will lead to very difficult economic times over the next year or two,” Mitchell Metal Products President and CEO Tim Zimmerman told the magazine.Donald H. Lloyd II, president and CEO of St. Claire HealthCare, added, “This uncertainty needs to stop.” “I support tariffs but believe they need to be applied strategically, not globally,” he told the outlet. The survey was conducted from April 8-10 with 329 chief executives in the U.S. A margin of error was not provided.
Tariffs will cost families nearly $5k per year, KY gov. says — Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is raising alarm bells over tariffs under consideration by the Trump administration, saying they’ll end up costing American families thousands of dollars. Beshear, in a message posted on social media, said the tariffs would cost an average family an extra $4,700 a year. “That’s months upon months upon months of groceries. That’s months upon months of rent. That might be your entire annual deductible if you’ve got private health insurance coverage,” he said. “No family will be able to get through that without being severely impacted and for those that are struggling to pay bills at the end of the month, it’s enough to put you under.” The $4,700 estimate comes from a recent analysis by The Budget Lab at Yale University. The analysts found if Trump’s proposal to tax nearly all imports an extra 10% goes into place, there would be “an average per household consumer loss of $4,700.”A different analysis, put forward by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, estimates the cost to a middle-class household would be more like $1,700. Both analyses agree that low-income households would be hardest hit. Consumers in need of big-ticket items like a new car or smartphone could find themselves with major sticker shock. $100M Walgreens settlement: How to file a claim before Thursday deadline Bank of America estimates that the new duties could raise car prices an average of $4,500, even assuming that automakers absorb some of the tariffs’ impact. Such an increase would follow sharp price hikes of the past few years that have left the average price of a new car at a painful $48,000.
Donald Trump faces obstacles, steeper costs with manufacturing jobs push - President Trump’s push to shift tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs to the U.S. is raising concerns and costs for many American industries, and economists are expressing doubts about its long-term viability. Some of Trump’s tariffs, which have targeted key manufacturing inputs such as steel and aluminum, as well as higher U.S. wage levels and a global decline in manufacturing jobs as a share of total employment are all working against Trump’s manufacturing push, and industry sentiment is beginning to wane. The Empire State Manufacturing Survey released Tuesday by the New York Federal Reserve showed firms turning pessimistic about the economic outlook for the first time since 2022. Expected business conditions in the survey have sunk since the beginning of the year, with sentiment dropping 20 points during the first week of April and more than 44 points over the past three months. “Firms expect conditions to worsen in the months ahead, a level of pessimism that has only occurred a handful of times in the history of the survey,” New York Fed economists wrote. Manufacturing activity across the U.S. contracted in March after expanding in January and February, as measured by the ISM purchasing managers’ index. The contraction resumes a more than two-year downward trend in the sector. “Production levels in March showed a marked decrease for the first time in 2025, as order books remain weak and new orders continue to decline, causing head-count reductions and lack of capital investment,” Timothy Fiore, chair of ISM’s manufacturing survey committee, wrote in an analysis released earlier this month. The sort of large-scale expansion in domestic manufacturing that’s being pursued by President Trump requires a lot of capital investment. Businesses are wary of making those investments, citing uncertainty in operating conditions initiated by Trump’s tariff push, which has been rolled out in fits and starts.“Business condition is deteriorating at a fast pace. Tariffs and economic uncertainty are making the current business environment challenging,” one ISM manufacturing survey respondent in the machinery sector said.There’s little indication so far that companies are planning large-scale reshoring of manufacturing capabilities. This is due largely to increased production costs due to a higher price for domestic labor.The price of domestically produced manufactured goods like smartphones and electronics could rise.Trump administration sued after taking down public spending tracker --The Trump administration was accused of breaking the law in a recent lawsuit after taking down a website meant to show the public how federal funding is disbursed to agencies. A new lawsuit filed in federal court in D.C. accused the Trump administration of violating federal law last month when the online database overseen by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) “went dark, without explanation.” “Congress mandated prompt transparency for apportionments to prevent abuses of power and strengthen Congress’s and the public’s oversight of the spending process,” the complaint reads. “Absent this transparency, the president and OMB may abuse their authority over the apportionment of federal funds without public or congressional scrutiny or accountability.” The suit cites legislation enacted during the Biden administration that required the budget office to make such “apportionments” of congressionally approved funding public. Under the apportionment process, agencies are given limited authority to spend funding allocated by Congress in installments. The Hill has reached out to the OMB for comment. The lawsuit, brought by nonprofit Protect Democracy Project, names OMB and its director, Russell Vought, as defendants. The group argued Monday that the apportionment disclosures provide “the only public source of information on how DOGE (Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency) is being funded — information that Congress and journalists have used in reporting and oversight.” The move comes as Democrats have been sounding alarm over the removal of the website in recent weeks, accusing the Trump administration of unlawfully hiding how agencies are directed to spend allocated funding.
Memo says Donald Trump would cut State budget by 50 percent: WaPo - An internal White House memo proposes cutting the budgets of the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) by nearly half in fiscal 2026, according to new reporting from The Washington Post.The early proposal for the fiscal 2026 budget would allocate $28.4 billion for State and USAID — down $27 billion, or approximately 48 percent, from the $54.4 billion in the 2025 budget, according to the Post.The Trump administration has moved to formally end USAID, merging any remaining programs with the State Department in the coming months. The early budget proposal, reviewed by the Post, takes for granted that USAID would be totally absorbed by the State Department. It proposes a 54 percent reduction in funding for humanitarian assistance and a 55 percent decline in global health funding, the Post reported, citing the memo.The memo also proposes eliminating nearly 90 percent of funding to international organizations, while funding for the United Nations, NATO, and 20 other organizations would end completely, according to the Post. The proposal also reportedly cuts all funding for international peacekeeping missions.The Post reported that a small number of organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Civil Aviation Authority, would survive cuts to targeted contributions.
Trump official who led efforts to dismantle USAID exits State Department -- Peter Marocco, an official who oversaw the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has exited the State Department, according to the Trump administration.“Pete was brought to State with a big mission — to conduct an exhaustive review of every dollar spent on foreign assistance. He conducted that historic task and exposed egregious abuses of taxpayer dollars. We all expect big things are in store for Pete on his next mission,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement obtained by The Hill.The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on Marocco’s exit. Marocco played an important part in the Trump administration’s efforts to take apart USAID and was an acting deputy director for the agency at one point. According to a statement obtained by The New York Times, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said Marocco’s “actions deprived millions of people around the world of lifesaving aid and jeopardized U.S. credibility with our partners.”
White House launches national security investigation into pharma, semiconductors - The Trump administration disclosed Monday that it had opened an investigation into the effects on national security of importing certain pharmaceuticals, a move widely seen as the prelude to initiating tariffs on prescription drugs.The Department of Commerce in a Federal Register notice said the probe, known as a Section 232 investigation, began April 1, the day before President Trump announced widespread tariffs on all imported goods but specifically exempted pharmaceuticals. Section 232 investigations allow the president to restrict imports deemed a threat to national security. Trump last week said he will impose “a major tariff” on prescription drug imports in the coming weeks. According to the notice, the investigation “includes both finished generic and non-generic drug products, medical countermeasures, critical inputs such as active pharmaceutical ingredients and key starting materials, and derivative products of those items.” The probe will examine specific issues, including current and projected demand for pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients in the U.S.; the role of foreign supply chains, particularly of major exporters, in meeting U.S. demand for pharmaceuticals; the concentration of imports from a small number of suppliers and any associated risks; and the feasibility of increasing domestic capacity for pharmaceuticals and ingredients. A typical Section 232 investigation takes 270 days before a report is given to the president, but the public comments on the notice are due just three weeks from the official April 16 publication date, an indication the investigation will move much quicker. Trump launched Section 232 investigations into the copper and timber industries in March. He has already used the investigations to issue tariffs on imported steel, aluminum and cars.
Commerce refires probationary employees as court order lifts - The Commerce Department and its National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are already refiring probationary employees after a temporary court restraining order was lifted. The Trump administration first attempted to get rid of the employees, who were recently hired or promoted, en masse earlier this year, but it was halted by a temporary court restraining order, and employees were brought back to the government on administrative leave. That restraining order was lifted last week, and the Commerce Department began to fire them again. It’s not clear whether other federal departments also moved to refire their probationary workers after the court order expired. The Commerce Department appears to be carrying out some of the administration’s most aggressive efforts to cut federal workers as it moves to slash the civil service workforce and government spending.The Commerce Department did not respond to The Hill’s request for comment.
Leaked documents reveal Trump’s proposal to halve NASA’s science budget - The Trump administration has proposed significant cuts to NASA’s science programs in its budget plan for fiscal year 2026, according to leaks from the White House reported by the Washington Post. Documents sent to NASA from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) show plans to reduce the agency’s overall budget by 20 percent, from $25 billion to approximately $20 billion. The Science Mission Directorate would face the most severe reduction, dropping its budget from $7.3 billion to $3.9 billion. Among the science missions under the leaked plan, astrophysics funding would be slashed from $1.5 billion to $487 million, Earth science cut to $1.03 billion and studies of the Sun cut to $455 million. Funding for planetary science would be cut to just under $1.93 billion. The documents also suggest that the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, with its workforce of approximately 10,000, would be forced to close. The closure of Goddard would be an even greater loss of scientists, engineers and skilled production workers than the shutdown of the shuttle program in 2011. This intellectual resource, developed through decades of public investment, would effectively transfer to private aerospace and defense contractors as workers seek new employment. It is difficult to overstate the impact that these cuts would have on the continued progress of science and the resultant positive development of human culture. Even amid the decline of US capitalism, particularly since the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, missions such as Cassini, Spitzer, Juno, New Horizons, Voyager, Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have inspired generations and caused tens of thousands to take up science as their career. In doing so, they have stood objectively against the onslaught of anti-scientific philosophies of postmodernism promoted in academia and the obscurantism and mysticism promoted in particular by the Republican Party. The orientation toward science is no doubt why many federal workers have taken part in protests against the Trump administration, including the most recent mass mobilization across the country on April 5. Trump, along with billionaire advisor Elon Musk, stand at the apex of all that is putrid, backward and reactionary in contemporary society.
Musk: Trump's proposed NASA funding cuts 'troubling' -Tech billionaire and White House adviser Elon Musk called the Trump administration’s reported plans to drastically reduce NASA funding “troubling” in a Friday social media post.“I am very much in favor of science, but unfortunately cannot participate in NASA budget discussions, due to SpaceX being a major contractor to NASA,” Musk wrote on X, the social networking platform he owns through his xAI company.Musk is the CEO of rocket manufacturer SpaceX, so while the Department of Government Efficiency that he leads at the White House has looked for ways to cut federal spending, he hasn’t directly been involved in discussions about programs where he may have a conflict of interest, including NASA.Musk’s social media post came in response to an Ars Technica editor who wrote, “If you care about science at NASA, this is royally sucks,” with a link to the tech news site’s recent article about proposed space research cuts.A draft budget plan from the administration calls for NASA’s budget to be slashed 20 percent across the board, according to Ars Technica.The site reported: “According to the ‘passback’ documents given to NASA officials on Thursday, the space agency’s science programs would receive nearly a 50 percent cut in funding. After the agency received $7.5 billion for science in fiscal-year 2025, the Trump administration has proposed a science topline budget of just $3.9 billion for the coming fiscal year.”Musk has been a dominant force inside the White House since Trump’s return to office in January. He was a top campaign donor to Trump’s 2024 campaign and publicly endorsed him in the final stretch of the election.
Mass Exodus at U.S. EIA Casts Doubt on Future Energy Reports --It seems our favorite government agency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), was populated by a lot of swamp creatures. Multiple sources are whispering to Reuters that 100 or more of the agency’s 350 employees (somewhere between 25% and 40%) either already have or soon will leave their jobs at the agency. They have opted to accept President Trump’s offer to government workers to leave with generous benefits now or risk being fired later. Reuters, which is typically an unbiased news source (one of the few), is throwing shade that important reports produced by EIA will no longer be produced, given the lack of manpower.
Agriculture Department cancels $3 billion grant program for climate-friendly crops -- The Trump administration canceled a $3.1 billion grant program for climate-friendly crops, the Agriculture Department announced Monday. In a press release, the department said that it was canceling Biden-era Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, which funded 141 projects that sought to advance climate-friendly farming practices. Projects funded under the program supported things like planting cover crops, which prevent soil erosion, and managing soil nutrients to minimize farming’s environmental impacts. The Biden administration estimated that the program would reach more than 60,000 farms and cut more than 60 million metric tons of carbon dioxide — the equivalent of taking 12 million gas-powered cars off the road for a year. However, the Trump administration said that most of the projects “had sky-high administration fees which in many instances provided less than half of the federal funding directly to farmers.” It also said that “select projects” could continue if they can show that a “significant” amount of their funds will go to farmers. “The Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative was largely built to advance the green new scam at the benefit of NGOs, not American farmers,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in a written statement.
Federal judge orders immediate thaw of climate, infrastructure funds --President Donald Trump does not have “unfettered power to hamstring in perpetuity” duly passed funding laws, the judge ruled. A federal judge ruled Tuesday that EPA, the Interior and Energy departments and other agencies unlawfully froze funds under Democrats’ climate and infrastructure spending laws, ordering the agencies to immediately resume disbursing the money. The ruling from Judge Mary McElroy of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, who was named to the bench by President Donald Trump in 2019, comes on the eve of an expected decision from another judge in Washington on whether EPA lawfully terminated $20 billion in climate grants. That case and other litigation are part of a complex web of lawsuits over frozen funds and terminated grants playing out in multiple courts. McElroy said she wanted to be “crystal clear” that the president is entitled to enact his agenda. However, “agencies do not have unlimited authority to further a President’s agenda, nor do they have unfettered power to hamstring in perpetuity two statutes passed by Congress during the previous administration.”The lawsuit was brought by six conservation and community groups that received grants under the Inflation Reduction Act that was enacted in 2022 and the bipartisan infrastructure law enacted in 2021. The grant recipients demonstrated that the indefinite freeze of their funds was “neither reasonable nor reasonably explained,” McElroy wrote, adding that the agencies did not show “that they considered the consequences of their broad, indefinite freezes: projects halted, staff laid off, goodwill tarnished.” And McElroy rejected the administration’s claim of “broad powers” to pause spending. Agencies have “narrower powers” to pause or terminate individual grants but not “cases of vast economic and political significance—like this one,” she wrote, citing the Supreme Court’s major questions doctrine, which looks skeptically at broad claims of executive power. Among the groups that brought the suit were the Childhood Lead Action Project, which got $500,000 from EPA to combat childhood lead poisoning in Rhode Island; Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corp., which got $750,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services for energy efficiency upgrades to housing for the elderly; and the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, which got $1 million from the Forest Service for urban forestry work.But McElroy applied her order to all IRA and IIJA grants nationwide, not just those of the groups that brought this lawsuit.“It would be anathema to reasonable jurisprudence that only the named Nonprofits should be protected from the irreparable harms of the likely unlawful agency actions,” she wrote.Notably, McElroy also dismissed the Trump administration’s arguments that she lacks jurisdiction to issue this order because these are contract disputes that by law would have to be heard by another court. Similar arguments have been raised by EPA in litigation over its canceled climate grants.But McElroy wrote that the nonprofits’ rights don’t stem from any contract with the government — they come from the laws passed by Congress. The groups are seeking to halt the government’s funding freeze, not get “money damages” for past harm done, she said.McElroy rejected the Trump administration’s argument that the Supreme Court’s recent decision to allow the termination of Education Department grants to go forward should bind her hands. A “single three-page per curiam order granting a stay” does not overrule a long line of precedent that gives her jurisdiction, McElroy wrote.
EPA appeals judge’s ruling requiring it to unfreeze climate dollars - EPA appealed Wednesday a federal judge’s order that prevents the agency from blocking $20 billion in climate grants, escalating a legal squabble over the frozen Biden-era money.The appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit came hours after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction, ordering the agency to stop “unlawfully suspending or terminating” the grant awards.Judge Tanya Chutkan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said she would issue an opinion detailing her reasoning for the injunction, but it was not immediately available.The fight over the $20 billion has become one of the most high-profile disputes in President Donald Trump’s attempt to throttle former President Joe Biden’s climate and energy agenda. The money has been sitting for months in accounts at Citibank, where EPA’s Biden-era leaders had placed it for the use of eight affordable housing and community-lending nonprofits.EPA has argued — without evidence — that the program has been marked by waste and cronyism.In her order late Tuesday, Chutkan, an Obama appointee, ordered EPA to file a status report within 24 hours, confirming its compliance with the preliminary injunction.
EPA Deputy Administrator McIntosh says regulatory overhaul coming -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under Administrator Andrew Macintosh, is planning a significant regulatory overhaul to streamline environmental policies and boost economic growth, as outlined in an April 15, 2025, article from Chemical Processing. Macintosh aims to revise or eliminate numerous regulations, focusing on reducing compliance costs for industries like chemical manufacturing while maintaining environmental protections. Key initiatives include revising the Clean Air Act’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards, updating the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to expedite chemical approvals, and easing Clean Water Act permitting processes. The EPA also plans to leverage advanced technologies, such as AI, to enhance regulatory efficiency and transparency. Industry stakeholders have mixed reactions, with some welcoming the potential for innovation and others expressing concerns about weakened environmental safeguards. The overhaul is expected to face legal challenges and requires public comment periods, potentially delaying implementation.
Trump orders agencies to speed up NEPA reviews with technology - President Donald Trump directed federal agencies Tuesday to streamline environmental reviews and the permitting process for energy and infrastructure projects through the “maximum use of technology.”In a presidential memorandum, Trump said agencies should move away from a paper-based system for reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act — a plan that could affect transmission, road, factory and power plant projects.“The Government does not properly leverage technology to effectively and efficiently evaluate environmental permits, causing significant delay to important infrastructure projects that impact our economic well-being,” Trump said in the directive. The president called for the Council on Environmental Quality to develop a “Permitting Technology Action Plan” outlining how agencies would use software and other technology to streamline project approvals. The plan is due within 45 days, and agencies are directed to implement the action plan 90 days after its release.
States shrug at Trump’s order targeting their climate laws - State officials are still scratching their heads over how — or whether — to respond to the executive order President Donald Trump signed last week targeting state climate laws. Trump’s order, titled “Protecting American Energy from State Overreach,” directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to “stop the enforcement” of state climate laws, from cap-and-trade systems to environmental justice programs to state permitting requirements — singling out California, New York and Vermont.But little has changed since Trump signed the order, officials say. That’s left state leaders in the uneasy position of defending their states’ policies while wondering what might provoke the administration into targeting them.The order is so vaguely written that many questions remain about how it could be enforced, or even what the Trump administration might ultimately target, Michael O’Grady, the deputy chief counsel for Vermont’s Office of Legislative Counsel, told lawmakers Tuesday.
Senators split on path forward on carbon tariff bill - A top Democratic senator who has long pushed carbon tariffs said that a Republican pollution fee bill is a good starting point, though GOP sponsors say they plan to move ahead with their party-line proposal.Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, said that a foreign pollution fee bill released this week by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was a “good first step” toward his long-stated goal of implementing a carbon tariff.The Republican-led “Foreign Pollution Fee Act,” S. 1325, a version of which Cassidy also pushed last Congress, would slap tariffs on countries that generate high levels of manufacturing pollution for imports such as steel, aluminum and fertilizer. The bill was celebrated by a number of climate and manufacturing groups when it was released Tuesday.Whitehouse, meanwhile, has advocated for more universal carbon tariffs that would punish domestic polluters in addition to foreign importers. He framed Cassidy and Graham’s bill as a first draft in an ongoing negotiation process.
Trump admin silent as UN deadline passes for reporting GHG emissions - EPA appears to have missed a deadline Tuesday to submit data on U.S. climate emissions to the United Nations. If so, it would mark the first time in history the United States didn’t meet an annual April 15 deadline for all developed countries to provide inventories of their climate-warming pollution. For nearly three decades, the United States has honored its obligation to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, including during the four years of President Donald Trump’s first term. But this year something changed. And it’s just not clear yet what that is. EPA didn’t respond to inquiries from POLITICO’s E&E News about whether the inventory might just be late. But EPA also never fully published the draft inventory — which covers economywide carbon, methane and other emissions from 2023 — despite the outgoing Biden administration completing that work and publishing a Federal Register notice promising it would be available for public view.The agency normally releases the draft in January or February and solicits public comment before finalizing the inventory. Missing the U.N. deadline raises questions about whether the administration might be preparing to exit the broader UNFCCC. Trump already has set wheels in motion for a second Paris Agreement withdrawal, and has asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to make recommendations soon about more global agreements that he views as not serving U.S. interests. Regardless, the U.S. appears to be no longer complying with the UNFCCC. The agency didn’t release the inventory publicly Tuesday and it doesn’t appear on the U.N. body’s website.“We’re rapidly approaching a situation where the operative question is, how could you tell the difference?” said Joe Goffman, who served as EPA air chief in the Biden administration. “How could you tell the difference between taking a formal step to withdraw from the UNFCCC or simply not abide by its terms?” The ratification documents then-President George H.W. Bush submitted to the U.N. in 1992 after the Senate’s vote to approve the treaty stated that the U.S. would comply via EPA’s Clean Air Act authorities, among other tools. The U.S. began reporting emissions to the UN in 1997. Section 114 of the Clean Air Act allows EPA to require companies to report emissions, though up to that point it had been used to require companies to cooperate with EPA investigations or to furnish data to help EPA write rules. In 2008, Congress included language in its annual appropriations bill instructing EPA to use its Clean Air Act authority to collect greenhouse gas emissions annually from a broad set of stationary emissions sources in key sectors like oil and gas, power generation, and landfills. That data feeds into the EPA’s greenhouse gas inventories, which are then submitted to the UNFCCC.
Trump allows dozens of coal plants to duck pollution limits - The nation’s leading power producers will get a two-year reprieve from deeper cuts to mercury and other toxic air pollutants.Dozens of coal plants — including some run by the nation’s leading power producers — will be allowed to sidestep updated limits on toxic pollutants after President Donald Trump’s unprecedented decision to grant a compliance extension.A roster posted on EPA’s website lists 47 power producers and almost 70 plants. They will get a two-year reprieve from regulations updated last spring to further cut the power sector’s emissions of mercury, a brain-damaging neurotoxin, and other hazardous air pollutants.The Trump administration is meanwhile seeking to revisit — and possibly repeal — the updated limits.The list includes the Colstrip Generating Plant, a Montana facility owned in part by NorthWestern Energy and Talen that ranks among the nation’s top polluting electricity providers. Others include facilities run by Southern Co., Entergy and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Also winning exemptions are plants operated by the East Kentucky Power Cooperative, North Dakota-based Basin Electric and other electric co-ops.
Trump’s push for more LNG exports risks domestic price surge - When a natural gas export terminal on the Texas coast exploded on June 8, 2022, the plant closed, and the price of gas in the United States suddenly dropped. By the end of the day, it had plummeted 16 percent. The reason: supply and demand. The facility, Freeport LNG, was then one of seven sites in the United States where gas was being liquefied at cryogenic temperatures and shipped overseas. When it closed, less gas could be exported.If gas prices can crash when one plant stops exporting, what does that mean for the years ahead? Will prices rise as the country exports more and more gas overseas? Higher gas costs could dramatically affect people’s heating and electricity bills because North American exports are expected to at least double between 2024 and 2028 as new terminals open. Gas prices will also help determine whether President Donald Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda lowers expenses for American consumers or raises them at a time when new U.S. tariffs are spurring worries of a recession and putting pressure on prices across the economy. Trump suggested last week in the Oval Office that buying billions of dollars of U.S. energy exports could be a way for Europe to avoid his tariffs.Any increase in energy costs breaks Trump’s promise to voters last year that he would cut energy prices in half in his first 18 months, said Tyson Slocum of Public Citizen.“It’s deliberate sleight of hand,” said Slocum, director of the consumer advocacy group’s energy program. “Right now, every major action I’ve seen him undertake is actually going to increase price.”The White House did not respond to requests for comment about Slocum’s assertion or whether Trump has concerns that increased exports could diminish his ability to lower energy prices for Americans.
DOGE Hands US DOE The Budget Axe To Slash $10B in Clean Projects - If Big Oil was starting to feel good about its government-sponsored climate-era glow-up, they may be in for a rude awakening, with the U.S. Energy Department reportedly preparing to pull the plug on nearly $10 billion in clean-energy funding, according to new memos seen by the Wall Street Journal. The DOE’s move could put everything from hydrogen hubs to carbon capture collaborations in the crosshairs—yes, even those buzzy projects with ExxonMobil and Occidental. According to internal memos making the rounds, the cuts could gut two key DOE offices tasked with steering the country’s most ambitious decarbonization efforts. That includes government contracts already inked or in the pipeline, which means a whole lot of projects might suddenly find themselves without a dance partner—or a checkbook. The irony is rich. For over a year, energy giants like Exxon, Chevron, and Occidental have begged Washington for clarity and consistency in clean energy policy. “Just give us the rules and we’ll play,” they said. So D.C. gave them money instead. Now? Cue the nervous glances as the rules—and the funding—start evaporating. It’s not just the oil titans who could take a hit. Solar players like First Solar, SunPower, and Shoals Technologies are all on the list of possible collateral damage. So are energy storage hopefuls, hydrogen dreamers, and the handful of carbon-capture firms still convincing investors that this time it’s for real. If finalized, the cuts would signal a sharp pivot in how the federal government views its role in energy innovation. The gaping divide between the two political parties in the United States is set to dish out a dose of whiplash. One minute, the government is dishing out IRA billions, and the next minute, a new administration is ghosting clean-tech suitors mid-date. For companies banking on Uncle Sam’s backing to meet emissions targets—or just stay afloat—this is a sudden reality check. For those who feel like the green gold rush is still on in the United States, it may be wise for companies to at least bring their own wallet.
Draft budget would slash HHS funding by a third: Reports -The Trump administration is seeking to slash the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget by nearly a third, according to multiple reports. An initial draft of the White House budget request calls for dropping the agency’s discretionary budget from its fiscal 2024 enacted level of about $117 billion to $80 billion in fiscal 2026, according to The Washington Post. The draft calls for the creation and funding of a new agency called the Administration for a Healthy America, which would encompass parts of other agencies being eliminated, such as HIV/AIDS prevention research and much of the National Institutes of Health, according to a report in Politico. To achieve the massive savings, the draft budget would recommend eliminating entire agencies, like the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration and Health Resources and Services Administration. When asked for comment, Office of Management and Budget spokesperson Rachel Cauley said, “no final funding decisions have been made.” The budget request comes as the Trump administration has already drastically downsized HHS, laying off 10,000 people with another 10,000 departing through the “fork in the road” and other incentives. The cuts hit across all agencies and programs, including testing for lead safety, tobacco products, sexually transmitted illnesses, and many more health concerns. According to the draft obtained by the Post, all of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chronic disease programs and domestic HIV work would be eliminated. White House budget requests are usually only aspirational documents to outline administration priorities and are ignored by lawmakers, but this Congress has shown an extreme deference to President Trump.
Trump executive order backs change to Medicare negotiation pushed by drug industry -- A new executive order signed Tuesday by President Trump directs Congress to change a key provision of the law allowing Medicare drug price negotiations, a move that would fix one of the drug industry’s biggest complaints. The order applies to what the industry calls the Inflation Reduction Act’s “pill penalty,” where small molecule drugs — typically pills — face Medicare drug price negotiations sooner than more complex biologic drugs. Small molecule drugs are eligible for selection to the drug price negotiation program seven years after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. After a two-year negotiation period, the new price takes effect in year nine. Biologics are eligible for selection 11 years after FDA approval, followed by a two-year negotiation period, with the new price taking effect at year 13. “This imbalance exacerbates incentives that already too often push companies to invest in large molecule drugs over small molecule alternatives, which often apply to broader populations and impact different types of conditions,” an administration official told reporters Tuesday during a press call. Industry groups similarly argue the law sends a signal to researchers that developing small molecule drugs is not worth the risk. The change isn’t something the administration can do on its own, so it directed Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to work with Congress to facilitate it. Legislation already exists in the House and Senate that would accomplish that goal.
Millions could lose no-cost preventive services if SCOTUS upholds ruling -A study by the Stanford Prevention Policy Modeling Lab (PPML) finds that almost 30% of privately insured individuals in the United States, or nearly 40 million people, use at least one of the free preventive health services guaranteed under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).But those services are now under threat by an ongoing legal challenge.On April 21, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management Inc. to decide whether to uphold the ruling of a Texas district court that the ACA preventive services mandate was unconstitutional.The ACA requires that private insurers cover specific preventive services at no cost to patients, such as blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol tests, and cancer, HIV and hepatitis C virus screenings. One set of services mandated for no-cost coverage follows recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which bases these recommendations on strong evidence of effectiveness in improving health through prevention and early detection of disease. The legality of mandating USPSTF-recommended services is the focus of the current case.The PPML team from Stanford School of Medicine and Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health looked at claims data from privately insured individuals in the United States, state by state. They determined how many people received, at no cost, any of the 10 services most likely jeopardized by Braidwood.The study published in JAMA Health Forum found that almost 30% of privately insured individuals, and almost half of privately insured women, use at least one of the 10 services at no cost. They found that 13 states have at least 1 million recipients of these free services—including 3 million (30%) people in Texas, where the case originated."Preventive services are essential health care. Eliminating guaranteed free access to these services would likely lead to lower use of evidence-based screening and treatment interventions, and worse health outcomes," said Josh Salomon, Ph.D., a professor of health policy and director of the Stanford PPML, and senior author on the study. In the Braidwood case, a key part of the Supreme Court's decision will be to evaluate the claim that the mandated coverage of USPSTF-recommended services violates the Appointments Clause of the Constitution, which declares that "officers of the United States" be appointed by the President and then confirmed by the Senate. The USPSTF health experts who recommended the preventive services are not appointed by the President.
Trump’s $40 billion Health and Human Services cuts: A prescription for social devastation -- The Trump administration’s plans to cut $40 billion from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—a staggering reduction of roughly one-third of its discretionary budget—marks an inflection point in the deepening assault on science, public health and the social rights of the working class in the United States and internationally. This unprecedented attack on programs which affect the health and well-being of virtually the entire world’s population is a critical component of the fascist program that Trump and his health secretary, the anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., seek to implement. It is a conscious effort to roll back more than a century of social progress and scientific achievement and will have catastrophic consequences.The cuts, detailed in an internal memorandum obtained by the Washington Post and published Wednesday night, include the following:
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): Budget slashed from $47 billion to $27 billion—a 40 percent reduction. The number of NIH institutes and centers is to be cut from 27 to eight, with the elimination of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and the National Institute of Nursing Research. Hundreds of research grants, including those on vaccine hesitancy, transgender health and COVID-19, are to be canceled. Thousands of scientists will be laid off, accelerating a mass exodus of expertise from the US.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Budget cut by 44 percent, from $9.2 billion to $5.2 billion. All chronic disease programs—including those targeting heart disease, obesity, diabetes, domestic HIV care, and smoking cessation—are to be eliminated, exposing Kennedy’s claims to be fighting “America’s chronic disease epidemic” as nothing but hot air. Staff working on drowning prevention, gun violence, worker safety and STD testing have already been laid off.
- Head Start: Complete elimination of federal funding, cutting off early childhood education and care for 750,000 low-income children. This will devastate working families, particularly in rural areas where Head Start is often the only non-family childcare provider, forcing parents out of the workforce and deepening social inequality. This cut by itself will outrage tens of millions of people whose children have benefited or are benefiting from the program.
- Rural health programs: Elimination of grants for rural hospitals, residency developments and state offices of rural health, threatening to shutter critical access points for millions in rural America. Trump ran up huge vote margins in rural areas during the 2024 election, thanks to the long record of neglect and austerity on the part of Democratic Party administrations. Now he is seeking to outdo all previous administrations in the destruction of rural infrastructure.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Funding set at the bare minimum to allow continued collection of industry fees, threatening the agency’s ability to regulate drug and device safety. The agency is one of those turned over to the control of a right-wing opponent of public health measures to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, Martin Makary.
Coinciding with these massive cuts, which will directly worsen the health of millions of Americans, Kennedy is creating a new $20 billion agency with the Orwellian title “Administration for a Healthy America.” The central purpose of this new agency is to consolidate and eliminate numerous prevention-focused programs, including those for childhood lead poisoning, healthcare workforce development and ALS patient registries. Funding for policy and research will be tightly controlled by Kennedy, who is launching initiatives that will serve as vehicles for anti-scientific, eugenicist policies.
Trump administration replaces federal COVID-19 response page with ‘lab leak’ explainer -The Trump White House on Friday replaced the covid.gov website that provided resources and information on COVID-19 with a webpage promoting the theory that the pandemic was a result of a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China, which a House GOP panel strongly favored in a report released last year.The address covid.gov now redirects to a White House webpage titled “Lab Leak: The True Origins of Covid-19.” Prior to this change, covid.gov provided access to free testing for SARS-CoV-2 as it became available along with as information on masking, testing and treating infections.Like the GOP-led House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic concluded in a report released in December, the Trump administration’s webpage concludes that the lab leak is the most likely origin of COVID-19. The more than 500-page report is included on the site. Criticisms of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), former chief White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and other entities active during the pandemic make up most of page.“This administration prioritizes transparency over all else,” a senior administration official told Fox News Digital. “The American people deserve to know the truth about the COVID pandemic, and we will always find ways to reach communities with that message.”
White House to ask Congress to cut $9B in funds, including for NPR, PBS, USAID -- The White House is preparing a rescission package that will seek to have Congress claw back more than $9 billion in approved funding through cuts to public broadcasting, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and agencies President Trump has sought to eliminate. A White House official confirmed to The Hill that the package will be sent to Congress when lawmakers return from Easter recess on April 28. The package requests to eliminate $9.3 billion in spending, the official said. That includes money for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which oversees PBS and NPR, money for USAID and agencies like the U.S. Institute of Peace, which Trump aimed to dismantle via an executive order signed in February. The New York Post, which first reported on the planned request, noted the request covered roughly $1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and more than $8 billion for USAID and other State Department efforts. The request cites various aspects of funding used by those organizations that do not align with the Trump administration’s priorities. It cites a PBS program from 2022 titled “Our League” about a transgender woman who comes out to members of their bowling league in Ohio. The request also notes that NPR CEO Katherine Maher described Trump as a “fascist” in old social media posts. Maher has apologized for those remarks.>
AP asks judge to intervene after White House removes wires from press pool - The Associated Press is asking a federal judge to step in following a move by the White House to remove the spot typically reserved for wire services from the press pool covering President Trump. The West Wing’s decision came just days after U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden ordered the Trump administration to restore the AP’s access to key White House spaces after it was banned from the pool over a refusal to use “Gulf of America” in its widely-cited stylebook. “The new policy abandons the longstanding role of wire services, which have been included in the pool since its inception to assure that White House reporting reaches the broadest possible audience in the United States and around the globe as quickly and reliably as possible,” the AP wrote to McFadden in its filing. “This change marks the latest reduction in wire service participation, which the White House continues to use as a pretext for targeting the AP.” The AP sued the White House earlier this year over the decision to ban it from the pool. As part of the White House’s new policy, wire services will be eligible for selection as part of the pool’s daily print-journalist rotation but will no longer have a permanent slot in the group. Previously, wires such as the AP, Bloomberg and Reuters were generally always in the tight circle of reporters brought in for pool events, which are then distributed to the wider press. The move, which came late Tuesday after the White House hours earlier attacked the press over coverage of Trump’s administration agenda, sparked outrage from the White House Correspondents’ Association and other press freedom groups.
Judge declines to further enforce order restoring AP access to White House -A federal judge on Friday declined to further enforce his order directing the White House to restore The Associated Press’s access to certain spaces, signaling that while top officials are owed a presumption of good faith, violations of his directive would be met with a heavy hand. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, an appointee of President Trump, said he’s inclined to agree with the government that its new policy — which eliminates a permanent slot for all wire services but makes them eligible for selection as part of the pool’s daily print journalist rotation — does not, on its face, discriminate against the AP. “I don’t intend to micromanage the White House,” McFadden said while handing down his decision. However, he said that if the AP continues to receive “second class treatment,” that would be a “very serious problem.” “And there would be serious consequences,” he said. The AP sued three top White House officials earlier this year after its journalists were banned from the Oval Office, Air Force One and other limited spaces because the outlet refused to use “Gulf of America” in its popular stylebook after Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico. Last week, McFadden ordered the White House to resume allowing the AP into those spaces when they’re made available to other press pool members. After the White House handed down its new policy, days after McFadden’s preliminary injunction went into effect, the AP asked the judge to enforce his order. Charles Tobin, a lawyer for the AP, called the White House’s new policy a “spit in the court’s eye.” He said eliminating the wire service slot altogether was done for the “express purpose” of diminishing the outlet’s opportunities to cover the president.
Trump says CBS should lose license after ’60 Minutes’ segments on Ukraine and Greenland -- President Trump railed against CBS on Sunday night, saying the network should lose its broadcast license after “60 Minutes” aired segments on Ukraine and Greenland that the president said cast him in a negative light.“Almost every week, 60 Minutes … mentions the name ‘TRUMP’ in a derogatory and defamatory way, but this Weekend’s ‘BROADCAST’ tops them all,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post after watching Sunday’s “60 Minutes” broadcast.“They did not one, but TWO, major stories on ‘TRUMP,’ one having to do with Ukraine, which I say is a War that would never have happened if the 2020 Election had not been RIGGED, in other words, if I were President and, the other story was having to do with Greenland, casting our Country, as led by me, falsely, inaccurately, and fraudulently,” he continued.Trump sued CBS News in October over a “60 Minutes” interview with his campaign opponent, former Vice President Kamala Harris, that aired shortly before the 2024 presidential election. In the lawsuit, Trump claimed the network deceptively edited the interview to portray Harris in a positive light. CBS News’s parent company, Paramount, has said the president’s lawsuit is an “affront to the First Amendment and is without basis in law or fact,” claiming Trump is trying to “punish a news organization for constitutionally protected editorial judgments they do not like.” The New York Times reported earlier this month that Trump and Paramount are set to begin mediation in the $20 billion lawsuit, in the hopes of reaching a settlement. It’s unclear exactly what prompted Trump’s ire, but both segments quoted foreign leaders criticizing Trump.
Zuckerberg stresses TikTok competition at Meta trial -Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg spent his third day on the stand emphasizing the threat TikTok poses to his social media company, as Meta seeks to fend off accusations from federal regulators that it has a monopoly over social networking. Zuckerberg said Wednesday he considers TikTok the “highest competitive threat” that Facebook and Instagram have faced in the past few years. Meta’s lead attorney, Mark Hansen, pointed to a 2020 email from former Facebook executive Vijaye Raji, who described TikTok’s growth as “worrying” and lamented the company’s strategy was “unfortunately not working fast enough.” “While Reels V2 is aggressive and promising, we still have some concerns if it is sufficient to neutralize the threat,” Raji wrote of an early version of Meta’s short-form video format meant to compete with TikTok. “TikTok in the US is a much bigger threat to our entire family of apps. And we need to put up a stronger assault,” he continued. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) initially sued Meta in 2020, accusing the social media giant of seeking to eliminate competition and entrench its monopoly over personal social networking with its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. Meta has argued that it does not have a monopoly, pointing to competition from other social media firms, such as TikTok, YouTube and X. It contends that the FTC’s personal social networking market, which includes Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, fails to take into account other competitors because of its focus on platforms that connect friends and family. Zuckerberg spent three days on the stand, including facing about nine hours of questioning by the FTC on Monday and Tuesday. He faced questions from Meta’s attorney Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.
Fewer Americans want government, tech companies restricting false content online: Poll -Support for the U.S. government or technology companies’ attempts to restrict false information online dropped slightly among Americans over the past two years, according to a new poll.According to a survey released by Pew Research Center on Monday, about 51 percent of surveyed Americans believe the U.S. should take steps to restrict false information online, regardless of whether it limits freedom of information.This is a slight dip from 2023, when about 55 percent of surveyed Americans said the same.The percentage of Americans who believe tech companies should restrict false information online also dropped from 65 percent in 2023 to 60 percent now.Meanwhile, the share of Americans who believe the government or tech companies should protect the freedom of information regardless of whether false information is published increased over the past two years, the poll found.About 47 percent of surveyed Americans said the U.S. government should protect this freedom of information, up from 42 percent in 2023, while 38 percent said the same of tech companies, increasing from 32 percent in 2023.An even lower share of Americans supports government or tech companies taking down or restricting violent content online. About 52 percent of surveyed Americans said the U.S. government should take steps to restrict extremely violent content online, down 8 points from 2023, while 58 percent said the same of tech companies, down from 71 percent in 2023.
Harvard rejects Trump demands for funding - Harvard University on Monday rejected demands from the Trump administration as it threatens the school’s federal funding as part of a broader clampdown on higher education. In a message to the Harvard community from its leadership — and in a corresponding letter from the school’s attorneys to the federal government — the university said that while it is and will continue to engage in reforms, those changes should not be mandated by Washington. “No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” President Alan Garber said in his message. The Trump administration on Friday demanded the university change numerous policies, including around protesting and diversity, equity and inclusion programs, to keep federal funding. The White House has gone after multiple universities, particularly Ivy Leagues, under the accusation the schools have not done enough to combat campus antisemitism after the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The demands for Harvard were similar in nature to those given to Columbia University, which chose to agree in an attempt to get back $400 million in frozen funding. But after the concessions, the federal government did not return the funding and in fact has made further cuts to the New York school. In the letter from Harvard’s lawyers to the administration, it said the federal government was attempting to violate the First Amendment and “invade university freedoms long recognized by the Supreme Court.” “Harvard remains open to dialogue about what the university has done, and is planning to do, to improve the experience of every member of its community. But Harvard is not prepared to agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration,” the letter said.
IRS asked to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status - The Trump administration asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status on Wednesday, a day after President Trump suggested the idea. Andrew De Mello, the IRS’s acting chief counsel, received an inquiry from the Treasury Department on Wednesday requesting that the agency rescind the Ivy League school’s tax-exemption status, according to The Washington Post. “Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’” Trump wrote in a Tuesday Truth Social post. “Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!”Tax exemption is reserved for nonprofits, social welfare organizations, religious groups and some educational institutions that fit the government’s criteria. However, they are banned from political campaign activity. Only the IRS can review and revoke the existing status of taxpaying entities and has traditionally done so without presidential interference, as mandated by tax laws.The development is the latest in the school’s public fallout with the Republican administration for refusing to comply with a list of their demands to maintain federal funds. “The IRS is supposed to administer the tax rules impartially, not pursue political vendettas against exempt organizations,” Steve Rosenthal, who served as senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center, a Washington-based think tank, told the Post.On Tuesday, Trump selected Gary Shapley, an IRS employee who testified during investigations regarding Hunter Biden’s taxes, to serve as acting commissioner of the IRS amid other staff shuffling. Last month, the agency announced its third staffing reduction after firing nearly 7,000 trial employees, more than 5,000 of whom were focused on tax compliance, in February.
Noem announces cancelation of $2.7 million in grants to Harvard - Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday announced the cancelation of more than $2.7 million in grants to Harvard University amid tensions between the school and the Trump administration.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a Wednesday press release that Noem unveiled the discontinuation of two grants from the department to Harvard worth more than $2.7 million. DHS also noted in the press release that the secretary requested “detailed records on Harvard’s foreign student visa holders’ illegal and violent activities” in a letter. “Harvard bending the knee to antisemitism — driven by its spineless leadership — fuels a cesspool of extremist riots and threatens our national security,” Noem said in the release. “With anti-American, pro-Hamas ideology poisoning its campus and classrooms, Harvard’s position as a top institution of higher learning is a distant memory. America demands more from universities entrusted with taxpayer dollars,” she added. Last week, the Trump administration demanded that Harvard change multiple policies — including those regarding protesting and diversity, equity and inclusion programs — in order to hold on to its federal funding. The school shot down the demands Monday. “No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” Harvard President Alan Garber said in a Monday message to the university’s community.
Trump plans to shut down Head Start, destroying early education and childcare services - In a sweeping attack on the social rights of the working class, the Trump administration, backed by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is planning to shut down Head Start, the nation’s largest childcare and early education program. The National Head Start Association and other education authorities have universally described this brutal attack on children and their futures as “catastrophic.” Since its inception in 1965, Head Start has served 40 million families in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and US territories. Mandated to involve parents and volunteers and provide community resources, the program is relied upon and beloved by millions. Since taking office, Trump and Kennedy have been working to terminate the 60-year-old program. On March 15, the Trump-backed temporary funding bill for the federal government flatlined Head Start funding, constituting a de facto cut of 5.2 percent due to inflation. Officials said this would compel enrollment cuts of 12-15 percent nationally. The Democrats provided the necessary votes for passage of the funding bill. On March 27, HHS terminated 10,000 employees, including hundreds from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), which oversees Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant. The Office of Child Care administers subsidies for 840,000 low-income children and has lost a third of its workforce. Entire teams within the Office of Community Services and Family Assistance were eliminated, and the number of HHS regional offices was halved. On April 1, Kennedy ordered the closure of five regional Head Start offices—Chicago, Boston, New York, San Francisco and Seattle—as part of his “dramatic restructuring.” On April 11, USA Today reported that the White House’s fiscal 2026 funding blueprint lists Head Start among the programs to be completely eliminated. Head Start is the nation’s most comprehensive early childcare and education program. It also provides a vast array of social supports in poor neighborhoods. It serves children up to five years of age. In 2024, it provided 804,969 children with educational and wellness services, including developmental screenings, meals, and nutritional support.
Appeals court halts Boasberg’s contempt proceedings against Trump administration --A divided federal appeals court panel on Friday temporarily halted U.S. District Judge James Boasberg’s contempt proceedings against the Trump administration over its deportation flights to El Salvador last month. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit indicated its order is intended to provide “sufficient opportunity” for the court to consider the government’s appeal and “should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits of that motion.” But for now, it prevents Boasberg from moving ahead with his efforts to hold administration officials in contempt. The judge on Wednesday found probable cause for contempt, calling the government’s refusal to turn around the March 15 deportation flights “a willful disregard” for the court’s order. The three-judge D.C. Circuit panel split 2-1. The two Trump appointees, Judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao, ruled for the administration. Judge Cornelia Pillard, an appointee of former President Obama, dissented. “In the absence of an appealable order or any clear and indisputable right to relief that would support mandamus, there is no ground for an administrative stay,” Pillard wrote in a brief explanation. Boasberg, an Obama appointee, has drawn Trump’s ire ever since the judge last month blocked the president from using the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used, wartime law, to swiftly deport alleged Venezuelan gang members to an El Salvador megaprison. Last week, the Supreme Court lifted the judge’s order, ruling the migrants must be afforded judicial review but that they need to file their legal challenges where they are physically detained. Boasberg has still endeavored to press ahead with contempt proceedings, since his order was in effect for some time before the high court lifted it.
Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez resume fraudulent “Fighting Oligarchy” tour tour in Los Angeles - A crowd estimated at 36,000 rallied Saturday in downtown Los Angeles, California in the latest iteration of the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour headlined by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Democratic Socialists of America Democrat, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. One week after the April 5 nationwide protests—when millions demonstrated against Trump’s anti-immigrant dragnet, fascist repressive measures, attacks on federal workers and social programs, and tariff war—tens of thousands showed up again in Los Angeles. The mood was militant and angry. Students, immigrants, workers and entire families participated. Their opposition was fueled by the failure of all official institutions—Congress, the courts, the Democratic Party and the trade union bureaucracy—to oppose Trump’s erection of a dictatorship. The event was heavily promoted by the Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). In addition to these two headliners, numerous Democratic politicians and trade union bureaucrats were afforded speaking slots. Over half a dozen musical acts performed, including Joan Baez, Maggie Philips and Neil Young. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the "Fighting Oligarchy" event in Los Angeles, Saturday, April 12, 2025. [AP Photo/Jae C. Hong] Democrats who spoke included Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost and California Reps. Jimmy Gomez and Ro Khanna. Bureaucrats from United Here Local 11, the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), the California Nurses Association (CNA), the National Nurses Assocation (NNA), the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA), the United Auto Workers (UAW), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the California Labor Federation AFL-CIO also spoke. No speaker sought to explain why none of the unions have organized a strike in response to the attacks of the Trump administration—from mass federal worker layoffs, to cuts in social programs, to the disappearance of immigrant workers and international students. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are being heavily promoted by the corporate press. Following the massive April 5 protests, which the media largely ignored, the senator was afforded a prime-time, hour-long “town hall” with CNN’s Anderson Cooper this past Wednesday. The organizers of Saturday’s event issued guidelines barring homemade protest signs. To enter the park, rally goers had to pass through a magnetometer. No signs were allowed. Countless attendees brought signs anyway, many of them condemning not only Trump, but the Democratic Party as well. Others bore slogans of solidarity with immigrant students being punished for speaking out against US policies, particularly Washington’s support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The scale of the April 5 protests struck fear not only in the Trump administration, but also in the Democratic Party, which is terrified that opposition from below will spill out of its control. While the desire to fight within the crowd was palpable, the political perspective offered by the official speakers was a recipe for disaster. Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez and the others advanced the dead-end strategy of voting for Democrats or pro-Democratic “independents.” This was coupled with the promotion of the bureaucratized unions such as the UAW, whose president, Shawn Fain, is stumping for Trump’s tariffs and drive to World War III with China.
Anti-genocide protesters silenced at Bernie Sanders “Fighting Oligarchy” rally - For nearly two months, tens of thousands of people across the United States have been attending rallies held under the banner of “Fighting Oligarchy” and headlined by Bernie Sanders and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The rallies have drawn large crowds not only in major cities, but also in areas that have traditionally supported Republican candidates. After 36,000 people—the largest crowd in Sanders’ career—rallied in Los Angeles on April 12, the following night another 20,000 people gathered in Salt Lake City, Utah. On April 14, in Nampa, Idaho, 12,500 people filled the Ford Idaho Center arena to capacity. Some 9,000 turned out in Missoula, Montana, Wednesday evening. On April 5, millions of people took part in mass protests against the Trump administration in over 1,500 cities and towns throughout the United States. The substantial attendance at these rallies and protests expresses the broad and deep opposition within the population to Trump’s fascist agenda. Millions of people are outraged over unending genocide and war, attacks on democratic rights, living standards, immigrants and students, and the efforts by the Trump administration to erect a fascist dictatorship. However, it is necessary to take stock of the political tendencies claiming to be “fighting oligarchy.” What role do Sanders, his protégé Ocasio-Cortez and the Democratic Party play in this struggle? An episode in Nampa, Idaho helps answer this question. Two anti-genocide protesters were ejected from the event by police for unfurling a banner depicting the Palestinian flag with the phrase “Free Palestine.” As the protesters were dragged away by police, thousands in the arena erupted into cheers of “Free Palestine,” drowning out Sanders’ attempts to quell their anger. Under conditions in which Israel is systematically exterminating, starving and ethnically cleansing the entire population of Gaza, Sanders declared at the rally that Israel “has the right to defend itself.” This is not true. The United Nations and the International Court of Justice have repeatedly ruled that the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, which it seized during the Six Day War of 1967, is illegal. Israel has no right of “self-defense” against a population it illegally occupies and imprisons.
Schumer moves to block Trump U.S. attorney nominees - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) has invoked the Senate’s “blue slip” tradition to block President Trump’s appointees to serve as U.S. attorneys for two of the most prestigious districts in the country, the southern and eastern districts of New York. Schumer announced Wednesday that he will use his senatorial privilege to block Trump’s nomination of former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Jay Clayton, a Trump loyalist, to serve as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and Joseph Nocella, a prominent local Republican, to serve as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District. “Donald Trump has made clear he has no fidelity to the law and intends to use the Justice Department, the U.S. Attorney offices and law enforcement as weapons to go after his perceived enemies,” Schumer said in a statement. “Such blatant and depraved political motivations are deeply corrosive to the rule of law and leaves me deeply skeptical of the Donald Trump’s intentions for these important positions. For that reason, I will not return the blue slip for the U.S. Attorney nominees for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York,” he said. Schumer’s action, if honored by his Republican colleagues, means that Clayton and Nocella may not reach a final confirmation vote on the Senate floor. But Trump is likely to pressure Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to advance the nominees despite Schumer’s objection. Clayton, who served as a mergers specialist as a lawyer at Sullivan & Cromwell before heading the SEC from 2017 to 2020, doesn’t have any prosecutorial experience.
The Trump family is going all-in on crypto projects - President Donald Trump and his family have taken a interest in just about every corner of the crypto industry.
How Trump’s Bitcoin Policies Are Making The U.S. A Crypto Superpower - “President Trump’s second administration is already reshaping the U.S. cryptocurrency landscape,” Forbes contributor Sandy Carter writes. Smaller countries like El Salvador have attracted bitcoin businesses by creating a strategic bitcoin reserve and innovation-friendly policies. The International Monetary Fund recently restricted El Salvador’s bitcoin purchases going forward. However, the country has already accumulated roughly 6,101 BTC in a strategic reserve. And one of the world's most profitable crypto companies, Tether, is reportedly moving its headquarters to El Salvador. Much like President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, Trump courted crypto-focused voters during his 2024 campaign, when he made dramatic promises to an enthusiastic crowd at the Bitcoin Conference in Nashville last July. Forbes contributor Susie Violet Ward, who attended the conference, writes that Trump said, “America would become a ‘bitcoin mining powerhouse’ and urged supporters to never sell their bitcoin.” “The convergence of political resilience and financial innovation marks a defining moment for Trump and the wider acceptance of bitcoin in mainstream politics,” Violet Ward writes. Even as his on-again, off-again tariffs have created market chaos, Trump's pivot toward crypto-friendly policies has helped keep prices from falling below the previous cycle's high of roughly $73,000. The relative stability of crypto prices may be in part influenced by the U.S. government’s new, less heavy-handed regulatory approach. Republicans saw how Singapore succeeded with a minimalist regulatory approach and are adapting this crypto strategy to suit the U.S. Singapore earned its reputation as a crypto hub by avoiding complicated regulations, no strategic reserve necessary, writes Forbes fintech contributor Zennon Kapron, director of the Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association. “Crypto firms have flocked to Singapore less because of anything specific the city-state has done and more because of what it has not forbidden,” Kapron says. Kapron adds that by taking a minimalist approach, the island nation became the world’s third-largest blockchain investment center in 2023, second only to much larger economies in the U.S.and United Kingdom. Trump saw how fast Singapore catapulted when using a minimalist regulatory approach and his administration has created a comparable framework. The relatively laissez-faire strategy is more akin to the noninterventionist policies crypto investors have enjoyed in other foreign places, including the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong. Along those lines, Trump signed H.J. Res. 25 into law on April 10, reducing the complicated — in some cases, logistically impossible — tax paperwork required of decentralized finance brokers. “Taxpayers must know when they bought the crypto, how much they paid and what they received for it. For stocks and real estate, this may be simple. For crypto, it can be much more difficult,” Forbes tax contributor Robert Woods explains. “Many crypto investors make purchases at multiple times and over many years.” While crypto users and companies must still report taxable events, reducing paperwork makes it easier for Americans to comply with the law. This new tax guidance came after a letter in March from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency nullifying guidance that made it difficult for banks and savings organizations to offer crypto services. Earlier this month, Department of Justice memos indicated that the government had disbanded the team of prosecutors that focused on cryptocurrency companies. Forbes contributor Andrea Tinianow writes this DOJ shift could have a positive impact on ongoing court cases related to crypto privacy tools like Tornado Cash, cases that will determine “whether developers can be held criminally responsible for creating open source code used by others to commit financial crimes.”According to the memo sent by the U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, law enforcement will stop acting like a “digital assets regulator” conducting “regulation by prosecution” and instead focus on so-called bad actors. The memo states: “The Department will no longer target virtual currency exchanges, mixing and tumbling services, and offline wallets for the acts of their end users or unwitting violations of regulations.” In short, the DOJ won't go after developers building crypto tools and tax-paying businesses that offer legal crypto services. The Trump administration wants the government to get out of the crypto industry’s way. “This move aims to reduce regulatory burden, encourage responsible innovation, and ensure consistent treatment of bank activities regardless of the underlying technology,” Forbes tax contributor Joshua Smeltzer writes. This may be inspired by the precedent of smaller nations with a less punitive approach to crypto regulation. Forbes contributor Irina Heaver, a lawyer in Dubai, writes that hundreds of crypto companies flocked to the United Arab Emirates, where they are regulated by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre. Those companies now contribute 7% of the UAE’s gross domestic product and crypto specifically accounts for 15% of Dubai’s foreign direct investment.
Every chain is an island: crypto’s liquidity crisis -Crypto has come a long way in boosting transaction throughput. New layer 1s (L1s) and side networks offer faster, cheaper transactions than ever before. Yet, a core challenge has come into focus: liquidity fragmentation — the scattering of capital and users across an ever-growing maze of blockchains.Vitalik Buterin, in a recent blog post, highlighted how scaling successes have led to unforeseen coordination challenges. With so many chains and so much value splintered among them, participants face a daily tangle of bridging, swapping and wallet-switching. While these issues affect Ethereum, they also affect nearly every ecosystem. No matter how advanced, new blockchains risk becoming liquidity “islands” that struggle to connect with one another. Liquidity fragmentation means there is no single “pool” of assets for traders, investors or decentralized finance (DeFi) applications to tap into. Instead, each blockchain or side network hosts its own siloed liquidity. For a user who wants to buy a token or access a specific lending platform, this siloing introduces multiple headaches. Switching networks, opening specialized wallets and paying multiple transaction fees are far from seamless, especially for those less tech-savvy. Liquidity is also thinner in each isolated pool, leading to price disparities and higher slippage on trades. Many users resort to bridges to move capital across chains, yet these have beenfrequent targets for exploits, raising fear and mistrust. If it’s too cumbersome or risky to move liquidity around, DeFi fails to gain mainstream momentum. Meanwhile, projects scramble to deploy across multiple networks or risk being left behind.Some observers worry that fragmentation could drive people back to a few dominant chains or centralized exchanges, undermining the decentralized ideals that fueled blockchain’s rise. Solutions have emerged to tackle this tangle. Bridges and wrapped assets enable basic interoperability, but the user experience remains cumbersome. Crosschain aggregators can route tokens through a chain of swaps, yet they generally don’t merge the underlying liquidity. They only help users navigate it. Meanwhile, ecosystems like Cosmos and Polkadot bring interoperability within their frameworks, though they are separate realms in the broader crypto landscape.The problem is fundamental: Each chain views itself as distinct. Any new chain or sub-network must be “plugged in” at the ground level to truly unify liquidity. Otherwise, it adds another liquidity island that users must discover and bridge into. This challenge is compounded by chains, bridges and aggregators seeing one another as competition, leading to intentional siloing and making fragmentation even more pronounced. Integration at the base layer addresses liquidity fragmentation by embedding bridging and routing functions directly into a chain’s core infrastructure. This approach appears in certain layer-1 protocols and specialized frameworks, where interoperability is treated as a foundational element rather than an optional add-on. Validator nodes automatically handle crosschain connections, so new chains or side networks can launch with immediate access to the broader ecosystem’s liquidity. This reduces reliance on third-party bridges that often introduce security risks and user friction.Ethereum’s own challenges with heterogeneous layer-2 (L2) solutions underscore why integration is essential. Different participants — Ethereum as a settlement layer, L2s focusing on execution, and various bridging services — have their own motivations, resulting in fragmented liquidity. Buterin’s references to this issue highlight the need for more cohesive designs. An integrated base-layer model brings these components together at launch, ensuring that capital can flow freely without forcing users to navigate multiple wallets, bridge solutions, or rollups.An integrated routing mechanism also consolidates asset transfers, mimicking a unified liquidity pool behind the scenes. By capturing a fraction of the overall liquidity flow rather than charging users for every transaction, such protocols reduce friction and encourage capital mobility across the network. Developers deploying new blockchains gain instant access to a shared liquidity base while end-users avoid juggling multiple tools or encountering unexpected fees. This emphasis on integration helps maintain a seamless experience, even as more networks come online.While Buterin’s blog post focuses on Ethereum’s rollups, fragmentation is ecosystem-agnostic. Whether a project builds on an Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible chain, a WebAssembly-based platform, or something else, the fragmentation trap arises if liquidity is fenced off. As more protocols explore base-layer solutions — embedding automatic interoperability into their chain design — there’s hope that future networks won’t splinter capital further but instead help unify it.A clear principle emerges: Throughput means little without connectivity.Users shouldn’t need to think about L1s, L2s or sidechains. They just want seamless access to decentralized applications (DApps), games and financial services. Adopting will follow if stepping onto a new chain feels identical to operating on a familiar network.
Crypto lending is growing thanks to decentralized players - The crypto lending market is rebounding from its 2022 crash, with decentralized platforms leading the charge while centralized players struggle to regain lost ground. A report from Galaxy, which builds crypto lending platforms, shows borrowers are trusting decentralized players after a centralized platform collapsed in 2022.
Crypto is draining public resources in Utah | Opinion – Deseret News -Utah just rolled out the red carpet for one of the most exploitative industries in America. In the waning hours of its legislative session, Utah gave the unregulated and environmentally destructive crypto industry free reign with the passage of HB230, Blockchain and Digital Innovation Amendments. The newly passed legislation enshrines the so-called “right” to mine crypto, self-custody digital assets, run blockchain nodes and stake tokens with minimal interference or oversight. Make no mistake — this is not innovation. It will harm every Utahn who pays a power bill, who cares about clean air and water, or who believes public money should serve the public good. This bill was written to give the crypto industry cover from local zoning laws, noise ordinances, public scrutiny and any kind of oversight. This gives this industry the ability to pollute our air, siphon our waters and feast on ratepayer-funded electricity without any local channels of recourse. The bill also waives requirements for these digital operations to get money transmitter licenses, which are required for other businesses that are engaging in electronic transfers. These licenses usually require a review of financial audits from the applying company. It gives so-called “miners” — the companies behind power-hungry warehouses of computers solving fake math problems in exchange for digital coins — the “right” to make a fortune while the rest of us pay the price. And pay the price we will. Proof-of-work cryptomining, the kind this bill enables, already consumes an estimated 2.3% of the entire U.S. electricity supply. That’s more than entire countries use, and for Utah, that means higher electricity rates for families and small businesses, higher strain on the power grid, increased fossil fuel emissions, and more pollution. In effect, HB230 creates state-sanctioned “opportunity zones” for cryptominers, giving them favored access to public resources, while shielding them from the kind of basic accountability other industries face. Importantly, the bill includes no provisions for managing water usage — a glaring omission in a drought-prone state where every drop counts. In Utah, where drought conditions are only expected to worsen in the years to come due to climate change, cryptomining’s excessive water consumption adds insult to injury. These facilities can use as much water as 300,000 households per year to keep their machines from overheating. That’s not progress. That’s abuse of an essential and scarce shared public resource. And then there’s the noise. If you’ve never lived near a cryptomine, imagine a semi-truck engine running outside your window, 24/7. And under this law, local governments can’t stop them — even if residents are losing sleep or being driven away from their homes by the nonstop hum. The cryptomining industry wants us to believe they’re ushering in the future. But the truth is, they’re dragging us backwards — toward more pollution, more waste, more corporate greed. Most Americans don’t use crypto, and many don’t even understand it. Yet our power bills, our water and our zoning laws are being usurped to prop it up. If lawmakers had bothered to look around, they’d see that other states have already learned this lesson the hard way. Arkansas passed a nearly identical bill last year. Chaos ensued. Noise complaints flooded in. Utility costs spiked. Lawmakers were forced to walk it back, and even co-sponsors admitted they were misled. Utah should expect no different. Lawmakers and the crypto industry are celebrating the passage of this bill as a bipartisan win that will position the state to lead. But it’s a corporate giveaway, plain and simple. The crypto industry doesn’t need special protections. It needs real oversight — especially in states like ours, where precious natural resources and strong local governance are vital to our quality of life. The crypto industry is massive and extremely well-resourced, but we’re fighting back. The National Coalition Against Cryptomining is already working in 18 states to stop this wave of deregulation. We’re building a bipartisan movement of everyday people — rural and urban, Republican and Democrat — who are sick of watching corporations upend our quality of life while our leaders cheer them on. We need our elected officials to choose the people they serve over a financial fantasy and the deep-pocketed lobby behind it. We won’t stop fighting until our public funds, our natural resources and our communities are no longer for sale.
A new kids' show will come with a crypto wallet when it debuts this fall | TechCrunch Anew animated kids’ series expected to premiere this year won’t be headed for a TV network. Or a streaming service. Instead, the founders of production studio We Ghosted Media plan to launch on a decentralized web platform that uses blockchain technology.And yes, a crypto wallet will be involved. We Ghosted Media — founded by Chris Jammal, an assistant director for “Bob’s Burgers,” and Jaclynn Demas, producer of hit children’s show “Peg + Cat” — is a TV production studio abandoning traditional show release methods in favor of a decentralized approach, commonly referred to as web3. The studio announced Friday it was teaming up with Lamina1 to launch the new animated kids’ series entitled “Owen Nowhere. Lamina1 was founded by “Snow Crash” author Neal Stephensonand launched in 2022 as a Layer 1 blockchain platform designed to give creators an environment to protect, control, and monetize their intellectual property. Lamina1’s overarching mission, however, is to build an open metaverse. Stephenson’s vision of the metaverse — a concept he coined in his 1992 acclaimed novel — consists of a virtual world where users get their own lifelike 3D avatar. Blockchain technology and the metaverse are buzzwords in the tech world and they have been slow to achieve mass adoption. Introducing a kids’ show in this space is particularly bold, considering the production studio will have to figure out how kids will navigate a platform that requires a crypto wallet. But Jammal and Demas are banking on the freedom of a decentralized platform, which allows the audience to interact and even participate, as a selling point that will win over users.
OCC unsure if hacked bank data was sold on dark web -Over a month after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency discovered it was hacked by illicit actors the agency said it is still working to understand what specific sensitive bank data was compromised and whether any of it has been publicly or criminally disseminated, according to a letter the agency sent Tuesday to banks it supervises. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency says it's still reviewing compromised emails and attachments after hackers gained access to the regulator for over a year and has not ruled out exposure of customer or supervisory data.
Fed's Barr: Core providers need to step up cybersecurity - A Federal Reserve governor called on core banking system providers to do more to safeguard community banks against emerging cyber threats. Federal Reserve Gov. Michael Barr — who recently stepped down as the central bank's vice chair for supervision — urged banks and regulators to use emerging technologies to keep pace with bad actors.
Fed proposes averaging stress test results over 2 years - The Federal Reserve Board of Governors has proposed a rule to average its annual stress test results for the largest U.S. banks over two years to calculate their stress capital buffer, a move that the central bank said would make banks' capital requirements more consistent year-to-year.The Federal Reserve proposed a rule to average individual banks' stress test results over two years, a measure the central bank says would reduce volatility in bank capital requirements from year to year.
FDIC narrows bank resolution plan requirements - The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Friday narrowed the requirements big banks must follow when submitting emergency wind-down blueprints — known as resolution plans — in an attempt to streamline the process and better position the agency to swiftly sell a collapsing bank over a weekend. The FDIC has streamlined requirements for large banks' emergency resolution plans, eliminating some costly strategies and offering more flexibility in light of 2023's bank failures.
Trade war could weaken banks, regulators — and competition -- A tariff-driven recession could strain the U.S. banking sector by eroding credit quality and slowing investment, increasing the likelihood of small and mid-size bank failures, experts say. That could drive an uptick in government-assisted M&A deals, continuing the trend of consolidation in the industry. President Trump's tariff regime and resulting price shocks may put additional pressure on small banks, requiring an already undermanned Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to turn to assisted M&A deals to resolve failed banks, accelerating consolidation in the industry.
OCC combines supervision into single unit - The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will merge its large, midsize and community bank supervision units into a single office, according to an agency announcement on Wednesday. In internal shakeup, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will unify supervision divisions, revive the Chief National Bank Examiner office, and elevate IT oversight as part of a broader streamlining push.
Citi must disburse federal climate grants, judge rules - Citibank must disburse some $625 million in federal grants to climate groups that the government had previously ordered the bank to freeze, a federal judge said. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan said the Environmental Protection Agency could not suspend the previously awarded funds. The case put Citigroup in the crossfire of a legal battle between climate groups and the Trump administration.
Citi must keep climate grants frozen for now: Appeals court - Citigroup will remain stuck in the middle of a legal battle between climate groups and the Trump administration for at least a few more days. The New York megabank, which is stuck in the middle of a legal battle between climate groups and the Trump administration, had been ordered earlier this week to disburse billions of dollars in grants made during the Biden administration.
FTC inquiry signals Trump administration stance on competition - The Federal Trade Commission is looking to lower regulators "barriers" and enact policies that embolden new entrants — something analysts believe could expose banks to greater competition from nontraditional financial institutions. The agency is seeking input on how to better open up industries up to new entrants. Some see this opening the door to more competition for banks.
Trump fires Democratic credit union regulators -President Donald Trump has ousted Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka, Democratic board members of the National Credit Union Administration, before the end of their Senate-confirmed terms in the latest example of bipartisan regulator boards being undermined in Washington.
Credit union oversight hobbled in warning to bank regulators — President Donald Trump has fired the two Democratic members of the credit union regulator, essentially grounding oversight of one of banks' biggest rivals to a halt and, according to experts, foreshadowing growth of political influence at the nation's top bank regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve. The firing of National Credit Union Administration board members further erodes the political independence of bank regulators, experts say, in a way that could trickle up to the Federal Reserve.
CFPB asks Texas court to vacate credit card late fee rule -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has sided with bank trade groups in asking a federal court to dismiss the credit card late fee rule. The CFPB's chief legal officer claimed in court documents that the bureau under the Biden administration violated the law by refusing to allow banks to collect penalty fees on credit cards. In a settlement with bank trade groups that sued the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Trump administration has agreed to drop the credit card late fee rule with prejudice.
CFPB shifts enforcement to states, stops nonbank oversight -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau plans to dramatically scale back its operations by shifting enforcement and supervisory work to the states and halting oversight of all nonbanks and Big Tech firms, according to an internal memo. An internal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau memo says the agency will shift enforcement and supervisory work to the states and cease oversight of all nonbanks and Big Tech firms.
CFPB guts staff as White House tries to dismantle agency — The Trump administration began layoffs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, with reduction in force notices sent to more than 1,400 employees just days after acting Director Russell Vought outlined ways to cut enforcement and supervision at the bureau. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is laying off more than 1,400 employees just days after a panel of judges said the bureau couldn't fire employees without an assessment of whether the workers are unnecessary to perform the bureau's legally mandated duties.
Judge blocks mass firing at CFPB -- A federal judge on Friday prohibited the Trump administration from carrying out a mass firing at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, saying the CFPB's leadership was "thumbing their noses at both this court and the Court of Appeals." The judge issued an order blocking the Trump administration from firing hundreds of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau employees, saying agency leadership had 'thumbed their noses' at the court's earlier injunction.
CFPB faces contempt motion for latest firing notices -A federal judge will hold a hearing Friday to determine if the leadership of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should be held in contempt for firing 90% of the bureau's staff and dismantling all divisions and offices that are necessary to fulfill the bureau's statutory functions. A federal judge will determine if the leadership of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should be held in contempt after firing 90% of the bureau's staff and dismantling all offices.
Trump's CFPB asks for dismissal of Townstone redlining case - - In a stunning legal move, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is asking a federal court to vacate a redlining settlement because the Trump administration disagrees with it. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Townstone Financial, a Chicago mortgage lender that it sued in 2020, jointly asked a federal court to vacate a settlement, saying the case should never have been filed.
Dems ask FHFA watchdog to probe Pulte's moves - Lawmakers are asking the Federal Housing Finance Agency's watchdog to review Bill Pulte's many changes since becoming director of the regulator. Senators want to investigate the rapid changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's boards of directors, and seek more clarity about reported layoffs.
Lawler: Update on Mortgage/MBS Rates and Spreads -- From housing economist Tom Lawler: Update on Mortgage/MBS Rates and Spreads On April 4th, the day after Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement, the so-called 30-year “current-coupon” MBS yield closed at 5.34%, its lowest level since the middle of last October. Last week’s bond market debacle, however, hit the MBS market especially hard, and the current-coupon MBS yield closed the week at 5.93%, its highest level since the middle of January. Obviously a major catalyst for the surge in MBS yields was the sharp increase in intermediate- and long-term Treasury rates. Putting additional upward pressure on MBS yields was the surge in market-implied interest-rate volatility. For example, the ICE BofAML MOVE Index, which is a measure of implied interest rate volatility derived from options on Treasury securities across the yield curve, jumped to 137.26 last Friday, its highest level since May 2023 and up sharply from 101.35 at the end of March. Finally, a widely-followed measure of the CCMBS option-adjusted spread to Treasuries from Yield Book increased by about 12 bp last week.
MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey --From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey - Mortgage applications decreased 8.5 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 11, 2025.The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 8.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 8 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 12 percent from the previous week and was 68 percent higher than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 5 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased 4 percent compared with the previous week and was 13 percent higher than the same week one year ago. “Mortgage rates moved 20 basis points higher last week, abruptly slowing the pace of mortgage application activity with refinance volume dropping 12 percent and purchase volume falling 5 percent for the week. Purchase volume remains almost 13 percent above last year’s level, but economic uncertainty and the volatility in rates is likely to make at least some prospective buyers more hesitant to move forward with a purchase,” . “One notable change last week was the full percentage point increase in the ARM share. Given the jump in rates, more borrowers are opting for the lower initial rates that come with an ARM, with initial fixed rates closer to 6 percent in our survey last week. The ARM share at 9.6 percent was the highest since November 2023, and this reflects the share of units. On a dollar basis, almost a quarter of the application volume last week was for ARMs, as borrowers with larger loans are even more likely to opt for an ARM.” ...The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($806,500 or less) increased to 6.81 percent from 6.61 percent, with points decreasing to 0.62 from 0.63 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans.The first graph shows the MBA mortgage purchase index.According to the MBA, purchase activity is up 13% year-over-year unadjusted. Purchase application activity is up about 31% from the lows in late October 2023 and is 9% above the lowest levels during the housing bust. The second graph shows the refinance index since 1990. The refinance index decreased.
Housing April 14th Weekly Update: Inventory up 1.6% Week-over-week, Up 33.4% Year-over-year -Altos reports that active single-family inventory was up 2.3% week-over-week. Inventory is now up 12.5% from the seasonal bottom in January and is increasing. Usually, inventory is up about 5% or 6% from the seasonal low by this week in the year. So, 2025 is seeing a larger than normal pickup in inventory.The first graph shows the seasonal pattern for active single-family inventory since 2015. The red line is for 2025. The black line is for 2019. Inventory was up 33.4% compared to the same week in 2024 (last week it was up 34.7%), and down 17.5% compared to the same week in 2019 (last week it was down 17.4%). Inventory will pass 2020 levels soon, and it now appears inventory will be close to 2019 levels towards the end of 2025. This second inventory graph is courtesy of Altos Research. As of April 11th, inventory was at 702 thousand (7-day average), compared to 691 thousand the prior week. Mike Simonsen discusses this data regularly on Youtube
Watch Inventory and Why Measures of Existing Home Inventory appear Different -Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Watch Inventory and Why Measures of Existing Home Inventory appear Different -A brief excerpt: We are in a period of significant policy uncertainty and there isn’t a good historical analog for the current period. However, for housing, the key will be to watch inventory. Existing home inventory will provide clues on house prices, and a combination of existing and new home inventory will indicate what will happen with housing starts. Here are a few examples of when inventory helped me call some turning points for house prices (this section is an update to a previous article): Starting in January 2005, I was very bearish on housing, but I wasn’t sure when the market would turn. Speculative bubbles can go on and on. However, the increase in inventory in late 2005 (see red arrow on graph below) helped me call the top for house prices in 2006. Several years later, in early 2012, when many people were still bearish on housing, the plunge in inventory in 2011 (blue arrow on graph below) helped me call the bottom for house prices in early 2012 (see The Housing Bottom is Here).
Housing affordability issues show few signs of easing nationwide This is the second in a four-part series. Read Part 1 here. U.S. house prices are out of reach for millions of Americans, and the Federal Reserve’s pause in interest rate cuts means financing costs will likely dog the real estate market for months to come.Affordability metrics show housing costs squeezing household finances, pressures made more intense by a long-term shortage of low-cost housing.Affordability in general was a top issue in the 2024 election, with dueling strategies coming from Democrats and Republicans about how to deal with it. Concerns about the staying power of inflation and uncertainties about the Trump administration’s macroeconomic policies suggest the issue — particularly in the housing market — could persist for the foreseeable future.The median price of a new single-family home in the U.S. is about $460,000, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a trade group for residential construction companies. Based on mortgage rates at 6.5 percent and current underwriting standards from banks, that price is out of range for about three-quarters of all U.S. households, the NAHB found in March. Mortgage rates are currently above that level, at 6.65 percent for the most popular 30-year mortgage.Even houses that cost $300,000, substantially less than the median sales price of $398,000 for existing homes in February, are too expensive for 57 percent of households, the NAHB found.The National Association of Realtors’s (NAR) housing affordability index, as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is well below the 30-year trend line. Households with a median income of about $80,0000 are just able to afford a mortgage for the median-priced home. That number popped up to a break-even at the end of last year after falling into negative territory in the back half of 2024.Between 2010 and 2023, U.S. households with median income were easily able to afford the median-priced home, even in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic. Affordability more than doubled the break-even level in 2014 and hit a recent peak at the end of 2021 before sliding into tighter territory as interest rates rose.While both rental and homeownership affordability has declined over the past few years, the drop for aspiring homeowners has been more pronounced. The NAR’s homeownership affordability index has fallen about 80 points, or about 44 percent, since 2020. While the situation has been more stable for renters, it’s not stable at a comfortable level. About half of all renters in the U.S. spend more than 30 percent of their monthly income on rent, a threshold reached in 2022 that hadn’t been seen in 25 years of data tracking by ratings agency Moody’s. In the short term, pressures on housing prices are being kept up by the pause in interest rate cuts from the Fed. After jacking the effective interbank lending rate up to the highest level since 2001 following the pandemic inflation, the U.S. central bank started to cut rates through the end of last year but held off during its January and March meetings after inflation ticked up and uncertainties swirled around the Trump administration’s plan for tariffs.
Housing Starts Decreased to 1.324 million Annual Rate in March - From the Census Bureau: Permits, Starts and Completions -Privately-owned housing starts in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,324,000. This is 11.4 percent below the revised February estimate of 1,494,000, but is 1.9 percent above the March 2024 rate of 1,299,000. Single-family housing starts in March were at a rate of 940,000; this is 14.2 percent below the revised February figure of 1,096,000. The March rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 371,000. Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,482,000. This is 1.6 percent above the revised February rate of 1,459,000, but is 0.2 percent below the March 2024 rate of 1,485,000. Single-family authorizations in March were at a rate of 978,000; this is 2.0 percent below the revised February figure of 998,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 445,000 in March. The first graph shows single and multi-family housing starts since 2000.Multi-family starts (blue, 2+ units) decreased month-over-month in March. Multi-family starts were up sharply year-over-year (March 2024 was very weak).Single-family starts (red) decreased in March and were down 9.7% year-over-year.The second graph shows single and multi-family housing starts since 1968. This shows the huge collapse following the housing bubble, and then the eventual recovery - and the recent collapse and recovery in single-family starts. Total housing starts in March were well below expectations; however, starts in January and February were revised up slightly, combined.
Newsletter: Housing Starts Decreased to 1.324 million Annual Rate in March --Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Housing Starts Decreased to 1.324 million Annual Rate in March - A brief excerpt: First, from Reuters: D.R. Horton cuts 2025 revenue forecast on weak demand for homesU.S. homebuilder D.R. Horton lowered its full-year revenue forecast and missed second-quarter profit and revenue estimates on Thursday due to weak demand for homes. … It sees about 85,000 to 87,000 transaction closings from homebuilding operations, down from its earlier forecast of 90,000 to 92,000 homes.I discussed weaker demand and higher costs last month in Policy and 2025 Housing Outlook Housing Starts Decreased to 1.324 million Annual Rate in March..Total housing starts in March were well below expectations; however, starts in January and February were revised up slightly, combined.The third graph shows the month-to-month comparison for total starts between 2024 (blue) and 2025 (red).Total starts were up 1.9% in March compared to March 2024. Year-to-date (YTD) starts are down 1.5% compared to the same period in 2024. Single family starts are down 5.6% YTD and multi-family up 9.0% YTD.
NAHB: "Builder Confidence Levels Indicate Slow Start for Spring Housing Season" in April --The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported the housing market index (HMI) was at 40, up from 39 last month. Any number below 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as poor than good. From the NAHB: Builder Confidence Levels Indicate Slow Start for Spring Housing Season- Growing economic uncertainty stemming from tariff concerns and elevated building material costs kept builder sentiment in negative territory in April, despite a modest bump in confidence likely due to a slight retreat in mortgage interest rates in recent weeks. Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes was 40 in April, edging up one point from March, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today.“The recent dip in mortgage rates may have pushed some buyers off the fence in March, helping builders with sales activity,” “At the same time, builders have expressed growing uncertainty over market conditions as tariffs have increased price volatility for building materials at a time when the industry continues to grapple with labor shortages and a lack of buildable lots.”“Policy uncertainty is having a negative impact on home builders, making it difficult for them to accurately price homes and make critical business decisions,” . “The April HMI data indicates that the tariff cost effect is already taking hold, with the majority of builders reporting cost increases on building materials due to tariffs.” When asked about the impact of tariffs on their business, 60% of builders reported their suppliers have already increased or announced increases of material prices due to tariffs. On average, suppliers have increased their prices by 6.3% in response to announced, enacted, or expected tariffs. This means builders estimate a typical cost effect from recent tariff actions at $10,900 per home....The HMI index gauging current sales conditions rose two points in April to a level of 45. The gauge charting traffic of prospective buyers increased one point to 25 while the component measuring sales expectations in the next six months fell four points to 43.Looking at the three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores, the Northeast fell seven points in April to 47, the Midwest moved one point lower to 41, the South dropped three points to 39 and the West posted a two-point decline to 35.This graph shows the NAHB index since Jan 1985.This was slightly above the consensus forecast.
Las Vegas in February: Visitor Traffic Down 11.9% YoY; Convention Traffic Down 19.5% YoY -- From the Las Vegas Visitor Authority: February 2025 Las Vegas Visitor Statistics With the combined factors of a tough comparison to last year when Super Bowl LVIII was held in the destination, a net decrease in the convention segment tied to rotation cycles, and one fewer day on the calendar compared to the 2024 leap year, visitation fell below 3.0M for the month, down ‐11.9% YoY. Las Vegas convention attendance reached roughly 615k in February, down ‐19.5% YoY, reflecting in part the calendar impact of World Market Center's Winter show (38k attendees) and Total Product Expo (8k attendees) ending in Jan this year vs. Feb last year, plus show rotations of Int'l Roofing Expo (15k attendees) and National Automobile Dealers Assn (22k attendees) which were held elsewhere this year. Occupancy reached 80.5%, down ‐3.4 pts with Weekend occupancy of 86.4% (down ‐3.9 pts) and Midweek occupancy of 77.7% (down ‐3.3 pts.) ADR for the month reached $186 (‐25% YoY) with RevPAR of $150 (‐28% YoY). The first graph shows visitor traffic for 2019 (Black), 2020 (dark blue), 2021 (light blue), 2022 (light orange), 2023 (orange), 2024 (dark orange) and 2025 (red). Visitor traffic was down 11.9% compared to last February. Visitor traffic was down 6.8% compared to February 2019. The second graph shows convention traffic.Convention traffic was up 19.5% compared to January 2024, and down 17.8% compared to January 2019.
CoStar: US inbound international travel takes 12% hit From CoStar: US inbound international travel takes 12% hit as economists postpone pre-pandemic recovery to 2029 Whatever hopes the travel industry had in a full recovery to 2019 levels of travel bookings this year have officially been dashed, according to one economist."Our pre-inauguration forecast expected international travel to nearly fully recover in 2025 to 2019 levels. We're now pushing that out to 2029," Adam Sacks, president at Tourism Economics, said on a webinar Tuesday. "Now we're looking at a full 10 years between pre-pandemic and what will be full recovery. And, of course, that comes with significant economic losses."...The U.S. is already seeing a decline in international travelers, Sacks said. According to National Travel and Tourism Office data, overseas visitor arrivals into the U.S. in March dropped 11.6% year over year. "What we see is that the things that have really affected international [travel] — it has as much to do with words as it does with action," Sacks said. "It's not only policy, it is rhetoric, the trade war itself, it needs to be said, it's intrinsically combative. It's called a war."Not only are Trump's tariffs effecting global sentiment, but the way he speaks of commandeering other countries, reduced support for Ukraine and enforces deportations is driving off travelers.While domestic travel should still remain strong, maybe even buoyed by Americans staying closer to home, the drop in international travel is "not going to fully compensate for the losses," Sacks said.
Retail Sales Increased 1.4% in March -- On a monthly basis, retail sales increased 1.4% from February to March (seasonally adjusted), and sales were up 4.6 percent from March 2024. From the Census Bureau report: Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for March 2025, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $734.9 billion, up 1.4 percent from the previous month, and up 4.6 percent from March 2024. ... The January 2025 to February 2025 percent change was unrevised from up 0.2 percent.This graph shows retail sales since 1992. This is monthly retail sales and food service, seasonally adjusted (total and ex-gasoline). Retail sales ex-gasoline was up 1.7% in March.The second graph shows the year-over-year change in retail sales and food service (ex-gasoline) since 1993.Retail and Food service sales, ex-gasoline, increased by 5.2% on a YoY basis. The change in sales in March were slightly above expectations, and sales in January and February were revised up, combined.US Retail Sales Soared Most In 2 Years In March As Auto-Spending Spiked Ahead Of Tariffs Following two disappointing months, US Retail Sales were expected to rebound strongly in March (despite all the chatter about consumer sentiment collapsing thanks to Trump's tariff policies). BofA's omniscient analysts team were slightly less exuberant than consensus but still expected a big 1.2% MoM jump in the headline (and stronger than expected prints in core data). Notably, before we dive into the data, this was before the real turmoil of Trump's reciprocal tariffs hit. Following January's plunge and February's small rebound, March headline Retail Sales rose 1.4% MoM (as expected) - the biggest MoM jump since Jan 2023. This raised the YoY sales rise to +4.6% - the highest since Dec 2023... Ex-Autos, sales jumped 0.5% MoM (better than expected) and February's print was revised dramatically higher. Ex-Autos-and-Gas, sales also beat expectations (as BofA suggested), rising 0.8% MoM and also seeing a sizable upward revision for February. It appears there was a dramatic front-running impact in Autos buying (ahead of the Auto tariffs) and Building Materials (ahead of Canadian tariffs?). We also note that sales at Gasoline Stations tumbled (as gas prices dropped)... Obviously the seasonals help to... Adjusted roughly for inflation, real retail sales are up by the most in 3 years... Of course this will be dismissed by the 'other' as a one-off pre-tariff surge in spending... while we should take the word of respondents from UMich surveys about their view of inflation as holy writ of course. Maybe they can shrug off the auto and recreation spending surge, but it's hard to suggest that people piled into restaurants in some tariff front-running form?
Industrial Production Decreased 0.3% in March - From the Fed: Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization; Industrial production (IP) decreased 0.3 percent in March but increased at an annual rate of 5.5 percent in the first quarter. The March decline was led by a 5.8 percent drop in the index for utilities, as temperatures were warmer than is typical for the month. In contrast, the indexes for manufacturing and mining grew 0.3 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively. At 103.9 percent of its 2017 average, total IP in March was 1.3 percent above its year-earlier level. Capacity utilization stepped down to 77.8 percent, a rate that is 1.8 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2024) average. This graph shows Capacity Utilization. This series is up from the record low set in April 2020, and close to the level in February 2020 (pre-pandemic).Capacity utilization at 77.8% is 1.8% below the average from 1972 to 2023. This was below consensus expectations.The second graph shows industrial production since 1967.Industrial production decreased to 103.9. This is above the pre-pandemic level.Industrial production was at consensus expectations.
U.S. Demographics: Largest 5-year cohorts, and Ten most Common Ages in 2024 -- Eleven years ago, I wrote: Census Bureau: Largest 5-year Population Cohort is now the "20 to 24" Age Group. Those people are now in the 30 to 34 cohort. This month the Census Bureau released the population estimates for July 2024 by age, and I've updated the table from the previous posts. The table below shows the top 10 cohorts by size for 2010, 2024 (just released), and the most recent Census Bureau projections for 2030. In 2024, the top 6 cohorts were under 45 (the Boomers are fading away), and by 2030 the top 7 cohorts will be under 50. Note: This is using the 2023 projections main series. There will be plenty of "gray hairs" walking around in 2030, but the key for the economy is the large cohorts in the prime working age. As I noted in 2014, demographics were positive for apartments, and more recently positive for homeownership. Population: Largest 5-Year Cohorts by Year (table) This graph, based on the 2024 population estimate, shows the U.S. population by age in July 2024 according to the Census Bureau. Note that the largest age group is in the early-to-mid 30s. There are still a number of younger Boomers in their early-to-mid 60s.
New York City public schools face historic crisis amid federal, state and municipal attacks -New York City’s public education system, the largest in the nation, faces unprecedented fiscal threats as federal, state and local budget battles converge, jeopardizing programs upon which hundreds of thousands of working-class families rely. With the attack on federal funding cuts by the Trump administration, combined with reductions at the state level as well as cuts to the city budget, there will be cascading impacts on schools already gutted by the response of the ruling class to the COVID-19 pandemic. In her most recent round of attacks on education, Trump’s Education Secretary Linda McMahon has demanded that states certify that they do not fund diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs or face the loss of federal funding. Since New York City has indicated that it will not cooperate with the order, this will result in cuts of $2 billion in federal funding for New York City schools, amounting to nearly 5 percent of the city’s $40 billion education budget. Such funds support hundreds of Title I schools serving low-income students, as well as IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) programs, covering around 200,000 students with educational disabilities. Additionally, McMahon has abruptly terminated Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) pandemic funding grants, completing the Biden administration’s goal of forcing the American population to “move on” from the coronavirus. This has already cost New York $79 million, including $8.4 million for locally sourced school meals. Meanwhile, the hundreds of layoffs at the federal Department of Education Office for Civil Rights—including all staff in its New York City regional office—will inevitably weaken oversight of disability accommodations and discrimination complaints filed locally. Currently, 146,000 New York City students live in temporary housing, a figure that represents nearly one in eight children enrolled in the city’s public schools. This alarming statistic marks a 23 percent increase from the previous year and highlights the persistent housing crisis gripping the school district. Among these students, 60,395 reside in shelters, while another 79,000 are “doubled up,” temporarily sharing housing with friends or relatives due to economic hardship. A smaller group of approximately 6,900 children live in hotels, motels, or even on the streets. The rise in student homelessness comes within the context of the broader social crisis in New York City. One in four New Yorkers lives in poverty—double the national average. Rising rents and stagnant wages have left many families struggling to afford basic necessities like food and transportation. The ultimate aim of the Trump administration is to completely decimate public education, eliminating every gain made by the working class over the past 150 years. Its austerity attacks are also coupled with broader efforts to suppress science and critical thinking, in an effort to subordinate every aspect of American society to the interests of finance capital and US imperialism. Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul’s latest state budget proposal would overhaul the current funding formula by replacing the 2000 Census poverty rate with more recent federal poverty data, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE). Additionally, free and reduced-price lunch eligibility would shift to include only those already on government assistance programs such as Medicaid, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, food stamps) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) programs, which themselves are under attack at both the federal and state levels. The proposed change would use the federal poverty threshold—currently a ridiculously low $32,150 for a family of four—as a benchmark for aid. The official poverty threshold in New York City for a family of four is $47,190, with such a family really needing $120,000-$144,000 to live. Hochul’s formula also does not factor in the especially high cost per student in the city’s schools.
Trump plans to shut down Head Start, destroying early education and childcare services - In a sweeping attack on the social rights of the working class, the Trump administration, backed by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is planning to shut down Head Start, the nation’s largest childcare and early education program. The National Head Start Association and other education authorities have universally described this brutal attack on children and their futures as “catastrophic.” Since its inception in 1965, Head Start has served 40 million families in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and US territories. Mandated to involve parents and volunteers and provide community resources, the program is relied upon and beloved by millions. Since taking office, Trump and Kennedy have been working to terminate the 60-year-old program. On March 15, the Trump-backed temporary funding bill for the federal government flatlined Head Start funding, constituting a de facto cut of 5.2 percent due to inflation. Officials said this would compel enrollment cuts of 12-15 percent nationally. The Democrats provided the necessary votes for passage of the funding bill. On March 27, HHS terminated 10,000 employees, including hundreds from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), which oversees Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant. The Office of Child Care administers subsidies for 840,000 low-income children and has lost a third of its workforce. Entire teams within the Office of Community Services and Family Assistance were eliminated, and the number of HHS regional offices was halved. On April 1, Kennedy ordered the closure of five regional Head Start offices—Chicago, Boston, New York, San Francisco and Seattle—as part of his “dramatic restructuring.” On April 11, USA Today reported that the White House’s fiscal 2026 funding blueprint lists Head Start among the programs to be completely eliminated. Head Start is the nation’s most comprehensive early childcare and education program. It also provides a vast array of social supports in poor neighborhoods. It serves children up to five years of age. In 2024, it provided 804,969 children with educational and wellness services, including developmental screenings, meals, and nutritional support.
Forest Service payments to rural schools set to plummet - School districts near national forests stand to lose millions of dollars in federal funding this year if Congress doesn’t soon renew a key Forest Service assistance program. Schools are again confronting one of the main shortcomings of the government’s efforts to compensate communities for decades of declining timber revenue from national forests: The law has to be renewed every two years or so, and Congress has been slow to act. More than $166 million in payments to counties could be at stake, including as much as $39 million in Oregon and $22 million in California, according to Forest Service data. The agency pays counties through a law called the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, first enacted in 2000. If the law expires, payments revert to a 1908 statute that provided for counties to receive 25 percent of timber revenues from national forests — which in most places is dramatically less.
A new case for all-boys education -Boys and men are struggling academically, mentally and socially. In recent decades, they have been losing ground in the classroom and workplace, as they struggle to find purpose and meaning after decades of erosion of traditionally-defined male roles in the economy and in the family. At every grade level from kindergarten through 12th grade, girls now earn better grades than boys on average, in every subject. What’s more, 45,000 fewer boys than girls are graduating each year from high school, amounting to a gender gap of 6 percentage points. The gender gap in higher education is even wider: Men currently earn only 42 percent of the degrees. There is now general agreement across the ideological spectrum that boys in the U.S. are in trouble. The discussion about how to address this crisis has become mainstream. Well-intentioned people have a variety of ideas about how to tackle the predicament in boys’ education. Although there is some agreement that the academic crisis of boys reflects a failure to accommodate their distinctive learning style and to present boys with a positive and attractive vision of masculinity, there is no consensus about a plan of action to address these problems. Some believe that recruiting more men to the teaching profession can help to provide a positive model of masculinity in schools and facilitate a stronger academic connection for young boys. Others think curricular revisions should be the emphasis. What hasn’t garnered much attention is single-sex education. Perhaps that’s because it is now a relatively rare model, even though the number of schools offering single-sex options has increased in recent years. Still, fewer than 1 percent of American public schools are single-sex. Even among private schools, less than 5 percent are currently single-sex, and most of those are high schools. Some studies suggest there’s no evidence that boys do better at all-male schools. But this result is hardly surprising, given such small study samples and the fact that mere segregation by gender without pedagogical difference is not likely to provide much benefit. In truth, the resistance to single-sex education is not based on sociological or academic studies. The truth is that the notion of single-sex education comes with significant baggage. In order to have a productive conversation about its potential benefits, we may need to update our thinking. All-boys schools, if done right, can address some of the problems that are at the root of the current crisis of boys and men. It’s important to acknowledge that boys and girls learn differently. Many boys struggle in today’s predominant educational models because they implicitly play to girls’ strengths. What many teachers punish as misbehavior is really just natural boy behavior. For example, teachers often punish boys for what they deem “excessive movement.” What is likely happening is that boys are demonstrating a need for what neuroscientists call “embodied cognition.” The structure of an all-boys school can allow for experimentation with pedagogies more tailored to the learning style of boys, whose brains gear them toward movement, competition, and risk. Moreover, all-boys schools provide a privileged place and time for boys to form deep male friendships, the dearth of which people are now realizing is a serious cultural problem. The bleak data on boys that has spurred the current discussion points us to a deeper cultural problem, of which the academic and workforce problems are ultimately symptomatic. In our contemporary society, people are quick to criticize practices of so-called “toxic masculinity.” But they are slow to propose an ideal of healthy masculinity. To many ears, even speaking of such a thing seems problematic. As the evidence of struggling boys and floundering young men suggests, however, the opposite is true: Our society cannot afford to not talk about what it means to be a man. As educators, we have to transmit an understanding of masculinity that is overwhelmingly positive. Our goal has to be not the transmission of negative rules, but the transmission of a positive image.
New Jersey sues Discord over child safety concerns - New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin filed a lawsuit against Discord on Thursday, alleging the popular messaging app misled parents about its safety features. The complaint follows a multiyear investigation, which claims Discord violated New Jersey consumer protection laws while exposing child users to sexual and violent content, the New Jersey attorney general’s office wrote in a release Thursday. The complaint, filed in New Jersey Superior Court, alleges Discord was aware of its safety features and policies but did not take action to protect young users. “Discord markets itself as a safe space for children, despite being fully aware that the application’s misleading safety settings and lax oversight has made it a prime hunting ground for online predators seeking easy access to children,” Platkin wrote. “These deceptive claims regarding its safety settings have allowed Discord to attract a growing number of children to use its application, where they are at risk. “ The lawsuit makes New Jersey the first state to file suit against Discord, which hosts more than 200 million users monthly. The platform, which launched in 2015, offers users the option to chat with each other via chat rooms or direct messaging. It is especially popular within the online gamer community. Discord differs from other social media platforms in that it does not have features for “endless scrolling,” like counts, or the ability to “go viral, while allowing users to decide the individuals and communities they join.
Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi snatched by federal agents during citizenship interview --On Monday, Columbia University student and green card holder Mohsen Mahdawi was snatched by federal agents after he reported to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Colchester, Vermont, for an interview as part of his application to become a naturalized citizen. In a video posted to X by Christopher Helali, Mahdawi is seen being escorted out of the building in handcuffs by hooded federal agents, one of whom is identified on his jacket as with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and placed in an SUV and then driven off the premises in a caravan of unmarked vehicles. Mahdawi was a leading figure during the pro-Palestine student protests at Columbia University through the spring of 2024. After this, he said he took a step back to focus on building bridges with Jewish and Israeli communities on campus. He is scheduled to graduate from Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs in the fall of 2025. Mahdawi, who is in his mid-30s, grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. His childhood was shaped by the Second Intifada (uprising) in 2000-2005 against the Zionist occupation of the Palestinian territories. He experienced significant personal loss, including the shooting death of his best friend during a confrontation with Israeli soldiers when he was 10 years old. More recently, Mahdawi lost two cousins in the growing violence in the occupied Palestinian territories since Israel launched the Gaza genocide after October 7, 2023. His aunts and uncles’ homes have been destroyed and his father’s store was blown up as part of the violence in the West Bank city of Jenin. In 2023, Mahdawi co-founded the Palestinian Student Union (“Dar”) at Columbia University, which “serves to engage with and celebrate Palestinian culture, history, and identity.” He co-founded this organization with Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian lawful permanent resident who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in March and is being held at a detention facility in Louisiana for his outspoken opposition to the Gaza genocide and defense of Palestinian rights. According to a report by The Intercept, after his transport away from the Colchester, Vermont immigration office, ICE began the deportation process to return Mahdawi back to the West Bank. As of 4:30 p.m., the Guardian reported that Mahdawi’s attorney, Luna Droubi, said, “We have not received confirmation as to his whereabouts despite numerous attempts to locate him.” “Mohsen Mahdawi was unlawfully detained today for no reason other than his Palestinian identity,” Droubi said in a statement to The Intercept. “He came to this country hoping to be free to speak out about the atrocities he has witnessed, only to be punished for such speech.”
Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi arrested by DHS agents during naturalization interview -Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi was arrested by federal agents Monday while he was in a naturalization interview at an immigration office in Vermont. Mahdawi, a Palestinian student and green-card holder, was arrested by agents with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Colchester, Vt., according to a court filing.Mahdawi was a leader in the pro-Palestinian protests last spring, making him the latest such activist targeted by the Trump administration. The first and most prominent foreign-born student demonstrator now in immigration custody, Mahmoud Khalil, also attended Columbia.“The Trump administration detained Mohsen Mahdawi in direct retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians and because of his identity as a Palestinian. His detention is an attempt to silence those who speak out against the atrocities in Gaza. It is also unconstitutional,” attorney Luna Droubi said. The court filing said Mahdawi was targeted by a pro-Israel organization called Betar US, which said on social media that “visa holder Mohsen Mahdawi is on our deport list.”
US Had No Evidence Linking Detained Tufts Student to Antisemitism or Terrorism - The US government had no evidence that Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk had engaged in “antisemitic activities” or made public comments in support of US-designated terror organizations before she was detained by ICE agents, The Washington Post reported on Sunday.The report said that days before Ozturk’s arrest, the State Department determined that Secretary of State Marco Rubio didn’t have the authority to revoke her student visa under an authority the administration is attempting to use to deport critics of Israel.Ozturk, a PhD student, was targeted for co-authoring an op-ed last year that called for Tufts University to divest from Israel and “acknowledge the Palestinian genocide.”The Post report said that the Department of Homeland Security had recommended to the State Department that Ozturk’s visa be revoked under an obscure provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 that allows deportation of someone if the secretary of state has “reasonable grounds to believe” their presence would have “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”The DHS said that Ozturk had engaged in “anti-Israel activism” and referred to the op-ed she co-authored. Ozturk was first targeted by pro-Israel groups, including the Canary Mission, which doxxes students and professors who are critical of Israel. The Canary Mission’s page on Ozturklists only the op-ed as an example of her “anti-Israel activism.”The State Department found there was not sufficient evidence to deport Ozturk under the provision DHS recommended. Instead, the State Department said she could be deported using another authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act that allows for the revocation of a visa at the secretary of state’s discretion, according to the Post.Ozturk was detained in Massachusetts on March 25 and is now being held in an ICE facility in Louisiana. In a declaration obtained by NBC News on Sunday, Ozturk said she was being held in “inhumane” and “unsafe” conditions and that her asthma was not being properly treated.Footage of Ozturk being arrested by masked federal agents provoked widespread condemnation of the Trump administration’s crackdown on speech critical of Israel. Ozturk said in the declaration that she was terrified during the arrest and thought the agents were “private individuals” who might kill her.
Student kills 2, injures 5 in Florida State mass shooting -- As of this writing two are dead and five are wounded following a mass shooting by a student at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee on Thursday. The shooting took place near the student union building before noon. According to law enforcement, the two people killed were not students.Sheriff Walter McNeil of Leon County identified the gunman as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner and said he was the son of a deputy in his department. McNeil admitted that “Unfortunately, he had access to one of her weapons,” referring to his mother, Jessica Ikner, the deputy in question.The weapon was a former service pistol, purchased from the department. Another weapon was found, a shotgun, but it is not known if that was used.Phoenix Ikner, a member of the Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Council, was wounded by responding officers after failing to obey officer’s commands and is now in police custody. Currently, he and the five wounded are receiving treatment in the hospital.A student eyewitness said the gunman approached campus in an orange Hummer and began firing with a rifle in her direction, before going back to grab a pistol. The eyewitness, McKenzie Heeter, told NBC News that he shot a woman afterwards, and after that she “started running.” Heeter described the shooter as a “normal college dude.” In response, university officials canceled all classes, events and business operations for the rest of the week. The FBI in Jacksonville, Florida, said its agents were “on the scene” and “assisting our local law enforcement partners.” Republican Governor Ron DeSantis issued a boiler plate response to the shooting, “praying for the entire Florida state community,” “mourning the two individuals who lost their lives,” wishing well to those in the hospital and calling for the prosecution of the shooter. DeSantis also praised law enforcement’s response. President Donald Trump issued an anodyne response, saying that it was “horrible that things like this take place.” That is, that this is a run of the mill thing and that nothing can be done. The worn-out and predictable response of the Democrats and their media mouthpieces was to meekly call for gun reform, something which has not worked in over 30 years and which they have no intention of actually following through on anyways. Since the Columbine High School shooting over 25 years ago, America has seen 428 school shootings, with 394,000 American students directly experiencing gun violence, according to a tally by the Washington Post.
FSU mass shooting kills 2 people, injures 6; suspect in custody - Two people were killed and six were injured after an active shooter opened fire on the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee on Thursday, law enforcement said at a news conference. Police on Friday clarified to CBS News that five of the injured victims were wounded by gunfire, and a sixth was injured while fleeing the scene. The suspected gunman was shot by police and also taken to a local hospital, where he remained hospitalized Friday.The alleged gunman has been identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, an FSU student who is the son of a Leon County sheriff's deputy, Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil said at the briefing. The suspect was taken into custody after being shot by police, officials said, adding that he invoked his right not to speak with police.Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell released a video statement Friday, saying there is no known connection between the suspect and any of the victims. Revell said the suspect was seriously injured and will require a significant amount of time in the hospital. He will then be transferred to a detention facility and face charges up to and including first-degree murder. Investigators say the suspect used his mother's former service weapon, now owned by her as a personal handgun, which was found at the scene. They said he was also armed with a shotgun. CBS News later learned that the sheriff's deputy is the suspect's stepmother, and that his birth parents had been engaged in a years-long custody dispute that began in 2007 and lasted until 2023. The sheriff's deputy has been at the agency for more than 18 years and her service to the community has been exceptional, the sheriff said. "Unfortunately her son had access to one of her weapons," Sheriff McNeil said. He also said that the alleged shooter was a longstanding member of the Leon County Sheriff's Office citizen advisory or youth advisory council and engaged in a number of their training programs. He had "been steeped in the Leon County Sheriff Office's family," the sheriff said. Police said the two people killed in the shooting were not students. The victims' names have not been released.Tallahassee police said at about 3:15 p.m. ET that the campus has been secured, although multiple law enforcement agencies remain on site for the ongoing investigation. "Law enforcement has neutralized the threat," FSU tweeted. The university said the student union and several other buildings on campus should be avoided "as they are still considered an active crime scene."Police responded to an active shooter call from the area of the student union around 12:01 p.m., FSU said. Police later said the shooter opened fire at about 11:50 a.m. The school sent an alert warning those on campus to "seek shelter and await further instructions." The university also cautioned students to lock and stay away from all doors and windows.The wounded are being treated at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Hospital, a hospital spokesperson confirmed to CBS News Miami. In an briefing Friday afternoon, hospital doctors said all the injured patients, which include the suspect, were in stable condition and are expected to make a full recovery. Three patients had operations and are out of surgery, hospital staff said, including two patients who needed abdominal surgery procedures and one patient who needed a facial surgery. Hospital staff also treated gunshot wounds to extremities. Two of the other victims may go home as early as Friday, hospital staff said.
Florida State University students felt fear and panic in deadly shooting Shooting rampage at Florida State that left 2 dead lasted less than 5 minutes, police say (AP) — Several thousand students, staff and faculty packed a plaza at Florida State University for a vigil Friday evening, bowing their heads in a moment of silence honoring the two people who were killed and six others who were wounded in a shooting rampage the previous day.The gunman, identified as the stepson of a sheriff’s deputy, arrived on campus an hour before the shooting Thursday and stayed near a parking garage before he walked in and out of buildings and green spaces while firing a handgun just before lunchtime, police said.In roughly four minutes, officers confronted 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a Florida State student, and shot and wounded him, Tallahassee police said.Officials have not identified the two men who died, but family members said Robert Morales, a university dining coordinator, was one of them. He worked at Florida State since 2015 and studied criminology there in the early 1990s, according to his LinkedIn profile.The other was Tiru Chabba, 45, a married father of two from Greenville, South Carolina, who was working for food service vendor Aramark, said Michael Wukela, a spokesperson for attorneys hired by the family.Police have said five others were shot, and another person was hurt running away. Medical staff at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare said they treated six people for gunshots, including three who were operated on, and all were expected to survive.
Trump targets hundreds of University of California faculty over opposition to Gaza genocide -- In a chilling development, the Trump administration has unleashed a full-scale witch hunt targeting nearly 900 faculty members within the University of California system. Their “crime” is signing open letters on the Israeli assault on Gaza and calling for the protection of Jewish and Palestinian students alike. In a textbook act of McCarthyite authoritarianism, federal officials are interrogating professors—interviews that serve no other purpose than to criminalize dissent and enforce ideological conformity. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), under orders from the Trump administration, issued a subpoena for faculty members’ private information, including names, emails, phone numbers, job positions and more. This information was surrendered by the University of California in March, after which Department of Justice (DOJ) officials began reaching out to faculty, not to uncover acts of harassment but to fish for ideological “enemies.” This development is a page pulled directly from the playbook of Joseph McCarthy’s House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Constance Penley, president of the Council of UC Faculty Associations, warned that the goal is to “strip away the autonomy of the university” and fracture academic solidarity. The campaign cynically uses the EEOC, an agency ostensibly meant to protect workers from discrimination, to punish scholars for holding dissenting views on US foreign policy. The very faculty members who openly opposed genuine antisemitism on their campuses are now being painted as suspects in an inquisition designed to enforce fascist ideology. Meanwhile, true cases of hate and harassment, especially those committed by the Trump administration itself, go un-investigated so long as they align with the political narrative of the oligarchy. Equally damning is the utter failure of the Democratic Party to confront this fascist campaign. The Biden administration laid the groundwork for a crackdown on students and faculty opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza. Biden and the Democrats jointly directed police interventions on campuses with right-wing Republicans, resulting in mass arrests and suppression of protests. The actions of the Democrats are compounded by the role of major academic unions, many of which have signaled a willingness to accommodate Trump’s nationalist crusade. Rather than taking bold action to protect the rank and file, the union leadership often retreats behind legalistic language and procedural inertia. Katie Rodger, president of the UC-AFT (University Council-American Federation of Teachers) union, stated: “This is not an attempt just to get information. This is where the EEOC and the Trump administration are asserting power over universities in an attempt to stifle academic freedom and free speech.”
Big Ten schools creating a ‘mutual defense compact’ against Trump actions - The faculty senates in the Big Ten Academic Alliance are creating a “mutual defense compact” to fight against President Trump’s ongoing attacks on higher education. The faculty senate of Rutgers University began the initiative, passing a resolution April 6 to establish the compact among the Big Ten’s 18 universities. “Be it resolved that, the Rutgers University Senate urges the President of Rutgers University to formally propose and help establish a Mutual Academic Defense Compact (MADC) among all members of the Big Ten Academic Alliance,” the resolution said. The resolution says it is in response to the Trump administration’s “legal, financial and political” attacks on academic freedom and the missions of universities. Rutgers’s resolution has since been joined by at least four faculty senates at other Big Ten schools, with Michigan State University becoming the latest Tuesday. In the Rutgers resolution, it says schools that participate should be willing to make legal counsel, experts and public affairs offices available to any institution that is facing pressure from the Trump administration. A fund would also be created to provide “immediate and strategic support” to universities. “Senators have a moral and ethical responsibility to review matters that are impacting anything related to university level, academic freedom, curriculum, policies, etc, and if they see any kind of dangers of infraction on those fronts, then it’s the [university] senate’s responsibility to collect that information and have a pretty robust conversation about it, and then take a vote on it and bring it to the [university] president’s attention,” Lucille Foster, chair of the Rutgers senate, told The Hill.
Trump administration freezes more than $2 billion in grants to Harvard - President Trump’s administration said it will freeze around $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in multi-year contracts to Harvard University after the Ivy League institution rejected the government’s demands earlier Monday. “Harvard’s statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation’s most prestigious universities and colleges – that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws,” the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism said in a statement Monday evening. The response from the administration came just hours after Harvard’s leadership said that it would not comply with the demands from the federal government, including instituting changes around protesting and diversity, equityand inclusion (DEI) efforts in order to keep their funding. “No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” Harvard’s President Alan Garber said Monday. He said the school is already working on several initiatives to fight antisemitism and it will continue to do so in the future, but the administration’s requests are a step too far.
IRS asked to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status - The Trump administration asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status on Wednesday, a day after President Trump suggested the idea. Andrew De Mello, the IRS’s acting chief counsel, received an inquiry from the Treasury Department on Wednesday requesting that the agency rescind the Ivy League school’s tax-exemption status, according to The Washington Post. “Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’” Trump wrote in a Tuesday Truth Social post. “Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!”Tax exemption is reserved for nonprofits, social welfare organizations, religious groups and some educational institutions that fit the government’s criteria. However, they are banned from political campaign activity. Only the IRS can review and revoke the existing status of taxpaying entities and has traditionally done so without presidential interference, as mandated by tax laws.The development is the latest in the school’s public fallout with the Republican administration for refusing to comply with a list of their demands to maintain federal funds. “The IRS is supposed to administer the tax rules impartially, not pursue political vendettas against exempt organizations,” Steve Rosenthal, who served as senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center, a Washington-based think tank, told the Post.On Tuesday, Trump selected Gary Shapley, an IRS employee who testified during investigations regarding Hunter Biden’s taxes, to serve as acting commissioner of the IRS amid other staff shuffling. Last month, the agency announced its third staffing reduction after firing nearly 7,000 trial employees, more than 5,000 of whom were focused on tax compliance, in February.
Noem announces cancelation of $2.7 million in grants to Harvard - Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday announced the cancelation of more than $2.7 million in grants to Harvard University amid tensions between the school and the Trump administration.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a Wednesday press release that Noem unveiled the discontinuation of two grants from the department to Harvard worth more than $2.7 million. DHS also noted in the press release that the secretary requested “detailed records on Harvard’s foreign student visa holders’ illegal and violent activities” in a letter. “Harvard bending the knee to antisemitism — driven by its spineless leadership — fuels a cesspool of extremist riots and threatens our national security,” Noem said in the release. “With anti-American, pro-Hamas ideology poisoning its campus and classrooms, Harvard’s position as a top institution of higher learning is a distant memory. America demands more from universities entrusted with taxpayer dollars,” she added. Last week, the Trump administration demanded that Harvard change multiple policies — including those regarding protesting and diversity, equity and inclusion programs — in order to hold on to its federal funding. The school shot down the demands Monday. “No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” Harvard President Alan Garber said in a Monday message to the university’s community.
Lawsuit: DOE cuts would ‘devastate’ university research - Nine universities and three higher-education organizations sued the Department of Energy on Monday, arguing that proposed funding cuts would “devastate” research and violate existing federal regulations.DOE’s move Friday to cap “indirect” costs to college and university awards at 15 percent run counter to Office of Management and Budget rules, the universities said in a complaint, which was backed by the Association of American Universities, American Council on Education, and Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. The plan would halt research on industries such as advanced nuclear, cybersecurity and the electric grid, they argued.Many “critical projects — often the product of years or decades of effort — are in jeopardy of being stopped in their tracks,” the plaintiffs said in the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, adding that “the human cost will be immense, as universities will have to immediately reduce staff and training programs — irreversibly damaging their academic communities, the careers of these young researchers, and the national interest in training the next generation of scientists.”Brown University, the California Institute of Technology, Cornell University, the board of trustees at the University of Illinois, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Michigan, the board of trustees at Michigan State University, the trustees of Princeton University, and the University of Rochester in New York joined the complaint.
US political conservatives have deep, unbudging suspicion of science, survey suggests --A University of Amsterdam study concludes that politically conservative Americans are more skeptical of science than previously thought, including that from fields that contribute to the economic growth and productivity they typically value.The findings, published yesterday in Nature Human Behaviour, were based on the survey responses of 7,800 US adults on their views on 35 different scientific fields such as anthropology, biology, and atomic physics by political leaning. “Since the 1980s, trust of science among conservatives in America has even been plummeting," senior author Bastiaan Rutjens, PhD, said in a University of Amsterdam news release. "Science is also increasingly dismissed in some circles as a 'leftist hobby' and universities as strongholds of the leftist establishment."
Microbiologists discover new species of methane-producing archaea in the human gut -- An international team of microbiologists from the Medical University of Graz, the DSMZ—German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (Braunschweig, Germany)—and the University of Illinois (U.S.) has identified and described a previously unknown species of methane-producing archaea in the human gut: Methanobrevibacter intestini sp. nov. (strain WWM1085).In addition, a new variant of the species Methanobrevibacter smithii, which is referred to as GRAZ-2, was isolated. The scientists have thus taken another important step toward understanding the interaction between humans and themicrobiome. The study is published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. Archaea are a distinct domain of life—along with bacteria and eukaryotes (i.e., organisms with a cell nucleus such as animals, plants and fungi). Although they appear similar to bacteria under the microscope, they differ in many basic aspects: for example, in their cell membrane, metabolic pathways and genetic characteristics. Archaea were originally discovered above all inextreme environments such as hot springs or salt lakes, but they are also found in the human body, especially in the gut. Methane-producing archaea, so-called methanogens, produce methane from simple substrates such as hydrogen and CO₂and thus significantly contribute to microbial metabolic processes—in ruminants, for example, but also in the human gut. Their research is still in its infancy because they are extremely sensitive to oxygen and difficult to cultivate. "They may play a significant role in gut function, microbial gas metabolism and possibly even the development or progression of certain diseases." The new species Methanobrevibacter intestini WWM1085 clearly differs genetically and physiologically from all previously known species. It thrives exclusively under strictly anaerobic conditions and produces methane and surprisingly large amounts of succinic acid, a metabolic product that is associated with inflammatory processes in the human body.The second strain that was discovered, a variant of Methanobrevibacter smithii referred to as GRAZ-2, exhibits unusual features: It produces formic acid, a molecule that may interfere with the metabolism of other gut inhabitants.
Mattresses releasing dangerous chemicals in children’s bedrooms: Studies -Invisible chemicals rising from children’s mattresses may be harming their brains and bodies. That’s according to a pair of studies published Tuesday, which found troubling levels of plastic-like “phthalate” chemicals and flame retardants in the bedrooms of children under 4. “Parents should be able to lay their children down for sleep knowing they are safe and snug,” co-author Arlene Blum, executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute, said in a statement. While there are some steps that parents can take to help keep their kids safe, the problem is pervasive, researchers argued. The Canadian scientists found that the weight and temperature of the sleeping child helped create a plume of trace chemicals that filled the bedroom. These chemicals can harm the nervous and reproductive system. They also mimic and interfere with systems of hormones, or chemical messengers that help control virtually all bodily functions. The researchers from the University of Toronto argued that much of the responsibility lies with manufacturers and policymakers. Decades-long campaigns have sought to ban phthalates and plasticizers in children’s toys and furniture, with limited success. Even where these efforts have been successful, manufacturers don’t always follow them, and government regulators often don’t enforce them. Tuesday’s study found several mattresses containing chemicals that were banned in Canada — suggesting manufacturers weren’t testing for compounds known to be harmful.
High levels of toxic chemicals found in paper receipts - New research has found that paper receipts from major retailers in the United States have a high level of bisphenol S, which has been linked to cancer and reproductive problems. Some receipts reportedly have such a high level of bisphenol S that holding one for 10 seconds can cause the skin to absorb the toxic chemical and violate California’s safety threshold.The new findings are being used in legal action aimed at forcing retailers to stop using receipt paper with bisphenol S, or BPS.The Center for Environmental Health nonprofit has sent violation notices to 50 retailers — including AMC Theaters, Dollar General and Burger King — that have reportedly exceeded California’s Proposition 65 limits.Bisphenol is a class of chemicals used in a variety of consumer products, such as food packaging, fabrics, toys and cookware. The use of bisphenol A, which has also been branded as toxic, is no longer widely used, and food companies now advertise when packaging is BPA-free.BPS is added as a coating to thermal paper to develop ink on receipts. The Center for Environmental Health urges companies to use a safer alternative to BPS, such as vitamin C thermal paper.The violation notices give companies 60 days to respond by switching to paper that does not use BPS — or include a warning that alerts consumers to its toxicity. If there is no response, the nonprofit can sue the companies in a California state court under Proposition 65 and ask a judge to order the changes.
Trump administration replaces federal COVID-19 response page with ‘lab leak’ explainer -The Trump White House on Friday replaced the covid.gov website that provided resources and information on COVID-19 with a webpage promoting the theory that the pandemic was a result of a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China, which a House GOP panel strongly favored in a report released last year.The address covid.gov now redirects to a White House webpage titled “Lab Leak: The True Origins of Covid-19.” Prior to this change, covid.gov provided access to free testing for SARS-CoV-2 as it became available along with as information on masking, testing and treating infections.Like the GOP-led House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic concluded in a report released in December, the Trump administration’s webpage concludes that the lab leak is the most likely origin of COVID-19. The more than 500-page report is included on the site. Criticisms of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), former chief White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and other entities active during the pandemic make up most of page.“This administration prioritizes transparency over all else,” a senior administration official told Fox News Digital. “The American people deserve to know the truth about the COVID pandemic, and we will always find ways to reach communities with that message.”
Research links COVID to poor kidney outcomes in US youth -COVID-19 infection was linked to a higher risk of new-onset mild and moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) in US children and adolescents from 2020 to 2023, according to recent findings from the National Institutes of Health's Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) initiative.The University of Pennsylvania-led research team assessed data on kidney outcomes from 1.9 million patients aged 20 years and younger with (487,400) and without (1.4 million) COVID-19 at 19 healthcare centers from March 2020 to May 2023, with up to 2 years of follow-up. The average age was 8.2 years, 51.0% were male, and 45% were White.The results were published late last week in JAMA Network Open. COVID-19 was tied to higher odds of new-onset CKD of stage 2 or higher (hazard ratio [HR], 1.17) and CKD of stage 3 or up (HR, 1.35). In patients with preexisting CKD, COVID-19 was associated with an elevated risk of composite kidney outcomes (at least a 50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], transplant, or end-stage kidney disease; HR, 1.15) 1 to 6 months post-infection. Children and adolescents with COVID-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) were at higher risk (HR, 1.29) for composite outcomes and at least a 30%, 40%, or 50% eGFR reduction at 3 to 6 months.The study authors said that the mechanisms of COVID-linked CKD could include the direct effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the kidneys, as demonstrated by viral persistence in tissues and prolonged virus shedding. Alternatively, infection-induced chronic inflammation could destabilize blood flow, damaging the kidneys. Other possible causes could be the drugs used to treat severe COVID-19 and pandemic-related economic and social conditions.
Studies across 14 nations show 25% to 30% rate of long COVID - A new study in BMJ Global Healthacross 13 middle- and high-income countries reveals that 25% of patients reported symptoms of long COVID after symptomatic COVID-19, and long COVID is significantly more prevalent in participants from less wealthy nations and in patients of Arab or North African ethnicity.A second study published in BMC Public Health showed that, among 3,693 COVID-19 patients in China, 30.2% reported at least one persistent long-COVID symptom, and 10.7% noted symptoms affecting daily life. The first study involved 6,528 adult patients with symptomatic COVID-19 in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Long COVID was defined as the presence of patient-reported symptoms 180 days after COVID-19, the authors said.Among the 25.1% of participants who said they experienced long-COVID symptoms, 12.8% reported sleeping disorders, 9.8% reported joint pain, 8.7% had fatigue, and 8.1% noted headaches. Almost a third of participants (29.8%) from lower middle-income countries said they had long COVID, compared with 14.4% in high-income countries (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10 to 2.14). The highest long-COVID prevalence was seen in patients with Arab/North African ethnicity (36.1%), and hospitalized patient were also at increased risk of long COVID (aOR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.63 to 2.54).In the second study, people with COVID-19 were asked to complete a survey on symptoms 180 days after infection in March 2023 through June 2023. Older age, female sex, and COVID re-infection were all associated with increased risk for self-reported long COVID. Reported use of Chinese medicine and more than three vaccine doses were protective factors.
TB notifications from prisons plunged during COVID pandemic, research reveals -Many cases of tuberculosis (TB) in prisons in Europe and the Americas during the COVID-19 pandemic were likely missed, putting both inmates and the community at risk for the deadly bacterial disease, Boston University (BU)-led researchers propose in The Lancet Public Health. The study team analyzed data from the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Pan American Health Organization (PAHO; 22 of 39 countries) and WHO Europe (25 of 53 countries) to model and predict prison populations and TB infections among 4.9 million inmates from 2020 to 2022. TB notifications in prisons were much lower than predicted in 2020 (-26.2%), 2021 (-46.4%), and 2022 (-48.9%). These trends were consistent across Europe and the Americas, but larger drops occurred in countries with lower TB rates (low burden) in 2020 (-54.8%) and 2021 (-68.4%), high-burden settings in 2021 (-89.4%), and Central and North America in 2021 (-100.3%). Incarceration rates were similar to predicted levels (under 10% overall difference) during the entire pandemic. "Reasons for this change in tuberculosis notifications might be multifactorial and include missed diagnoses and implementation of COVID-19 pandemic measures, reducing transmission," the authors wrote. In a BU news release, first author Amy Zheng, MPH, a PhD student, said, "When countries are unable to detect tuberculosis in high-risk populations—such as people who are incarcerated—it increases the risk of transmission, both within prisons and to the broader community, when people are released from prison." "Efforts to tackle tuberculosis inside prisons must be redoubled as they have outside," . "Such actions will have a positive effect on the whole community; no one is safe until we are all safe."
Survey of global measles activity shows COVID pandemic's effect - A new analysis published yesterday in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases finds the global measles incidence has declined over the past 30 years. But in 2021, measles caused 4.1 million cases, 48,100 deaths, and 4.2 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) among children under 5 years old, highlighting the significant threat the disease still poses to children in mostly low-income countries.The study used data on measles incidence, mortality, and DALYs in children under 5 using the 2021 GBD (Global Burden of Disease) study, and information on measles containing vaccine (MCV) coverage in 204 countries from the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx). Overall, the study paints a picture of steady global declines in measles activity since 1990, but suggests the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, with its disruptions to childhood immunization schedules, may mark the beginning of the end of measles progress for some nations.From 1990 to 2019, the global incidence rate of measles in children decreased by 5.85% annually (95% confidence interval [CI], -6.56 to -5.13), from 8,611.06 cases per 100,000 in 1990 to 1,413.59 per 100,000 in 2019.In 2021, Somalia estimated the highest measles incidence rate at 8,964.82 cases per 100,000 population, followed by Vanuatu and Mali. Somalia and Mali also had the highest mortality rates, at 311.81 and 127.07 deaths per 100,000 population, respectively. Similarly, Somalia and Mali had the highest DALY rates in 2021.In 2021, the global coverage of the first dose of the measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) was 80% (95% CI, 78% to 81%), while the coverage of the second dose (MCV2) was 68% (95% CI, 67% to 70%). Among the 204 countries analyzed, MCV1 vaccination coverage declined in 75 countries in 2021, with the largest reductions observed in Montenegro (-42.02; 95% CI, -58.36 to -19.26), Djibouti (-21.81%,), and Vanuatu (-20.52%).“Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global MCV1 coverage exhibited a consistent upward trend, with an EAPC [estimated annual percentage change] of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.79 to 0.96),” the authors wrote. “However, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, MCV1 coverage declined, with an EAPC of -2.08 (95% CI: -3.30 to -0.85). In contrast, MCV2 coverage demonstrated an overall increasing trend throughout the period.” After the onset of pandemic, 10 countries, including Zambia, saw an increase in measles incidence. According to the World Health Organization, global measles cases in 2023 reached 10.34 million, a 20% increase compared with2022.
7 US service members had ‘COVID-19-like symptoms’ after 2019 Wuhan games: Pentagon report --Seven U.S. service members exhibited “COVID-19-like symptoms” during or after their return from the 2019 World Military Games in Wuhan, China, according to a Pentagon report recently made public.The report indicates the service members had symptoms between Oct. 18, 2019, and Jan. 21, 2020. The symptoms all resolved within six days, according to the report, which is dated December 2022.The games opened on Oct. 18, 2019, and closed on Oct. 27, 2019.The service members were not tested for COVID-19, according to the report, because “testing was not available at this early stage of the pandemic.”The report makes clear that the symptoms “could have been caused by other respiratory infections.” The first known case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The first confirmed case outside of China was reported in January 2020.The CIA said in January it favors the Wuhan lab-leak theory to explain the origin of the virus that led to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the agency said it had little confidence in this conclusion, suggesting the evidence was insufficient or inconclusive.
What’s happening in U.S. vaccine policy? Your Local Epidemiologist | Katelyn Jetelina | -- ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices)—the external advisory committee to CDC that guides U.S. vaccine policy—finally met this week after a two-month delay imposed by Health Secretary Kennedy. This meeting carried extra weight: it’s one of several levers Kennedy can use to influence vaccine policy in the U.S. Given his long history of casting doubt on vaccines, many closely watched this meeting. Including me.Here are your Cliff Notes—and more importantly, what it means for you.> Let’s start with the good news: the meeting was pretty normal. That shouldn’t be news… but these days, it is. Two big reasons why this meeting felt (mostly) status quo: ACIP members are the same folks who served during the Biden administration. Despite Secretary Kennedy’s past accusations of members having conflicts of interest, nothing changed. And the presentations remain solid: comprehensive overviews of risks and benefits, thoughtful discussion, and clear justification for vaccine policies. No conspiracy-laced slides. No manipulated data. Just science. Still, with four years ahead, there’s plenty of opportunity for Kennedy to interfere. So yes, I’ll keep watching.Three things that were not business as usual:
- Streaming scramble. After the administration’s sweeping CDC communication staff layoffs, the agency scrambled to meet the legal requirement of live-streaming the meeting. They made it happen, but not without glitches—technical issues interrupted parts of the public broadcast.
- A new voice at the table: Tracy Hoeg. While only ACIP members vote on decisions, other government and professional representatives can attend and comment.. This time, the administration sent a political appointee, Dr. Tracy Hoeg—a sports medicine doctor known for her vocal criticism of Covid-19 policies and repeatedly misrepresenting science. She made her presence known at the meeting, questioning the safety and effectiveness of multiple vaccines.
- A shift toward a European-style vaccine policy? I’ll preface by saying I don’t think this is driven by political interference (yet). In recent years, there has been a groundswell movement to shift the U.S. health policy toward a European model (think red dye and fluoride). We are starting to see this national conversation happen with vaccinations. For years, the U.S. has leaned toward universal vaccination for things like flu and Covid-19—meaning everyone is recommended to get vaccinated. In contrast, many European countries follow a risk-based approach, recommending vaccines only for high-risk groups.There are some good reasons we do universal vaccination in the U.S.:
- Implementation: Implementing and communicating universal vaccination recommendations is much easier.
- Possible increased uptake. At first, flu vaccines were only recommended to high-risk people in the U.S.; however, once this was made universal, coverage increased among everyone including *high-risk* because it became easier for everyone to get a vaccine. However, this is based on very weak data. (It could be increasing for several other reasons.)
- Insurance and access implications. I’ve made the argument before (see previous YLE post below) that we need to be careful in making the same policy decisions as other countries given the U.S. health landscape (crappy health care, lack of access, paid sick leave, and service) is so different.
In recent weeks, some have been quick to criticize health policy decisions in the U.S. by pointing to decisions made in other countries. For Covid-19, a few factors are driving the discussion to move towards risk-based:
- Vaccine fatigue is real.
- Many doctors are hesitant to even bring up COVID vaccines due to politicization.
- We just came out of a “mild” winter—though let’s be clear, it still meant tens of thousands of deaths.
- There’s been a cultural sea change in how Americans think about Covid-19—and vaccine policy reflects culture as much as science.
I was surprised that 75% of CDC staff working on this issue supported implementing risk-based recommendations. The ACIP committee seems more mixed. CDC hasn’t decided yet—but they will in June, when they determine who’s eligible for fall Covid-19. I wouldn’t be surprised if this decision-making process also extended to flu vaccines.
WHO member states reach pandemic agreement - The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Wednesday its member states had reached an agreement on preparing for and responding to future pandemics after more than three years of negotiations. With negotiations having launched in 2021, WHO member states have compiled a draft agreement for consideration at the upcoming World Health Assembly next month. The proposal includes establishing a pathogen access and benefit-sharing system, building geographically diverse research and development capacities, facilitating the transfer of technology and related knowledge, and establishing a global supply chain and logistics network, among other measures. “In reaching consensus on the Pandemic Agreement, not only did they put in place a generational accord to make the world safer, they have also demonstrated that multilateralism is alive and well, and that in our divided world, nations can still work together to find common ground, and a shared response to shared threats,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. “I thank WHO’s Member States, and their negotiating teams, for their foresight, commitment and tireless work. We look forward to the World Health Assembly’s consideration of the agreement and — we hope — its adoption,” he added. The proposal affirms the individual sovereignty of member states and does not give the WHO any authority to “direct, order, alter or prescribe national laws or policies, or mandate States to take specific actions.” Should this proposal be finalized, it remains uncertain whether the United States will stand to benefit from the global agreement. Immediately upon beginning his second term, President Trump signed an order for the U.S. to withdraw from the WHO, having sought to do the same during his first term. The U.S. is currently considered a member state as there is a one-year waiting period for withdrawal to be completed. Public health experts have expressed concerns that should the U.S. fully withdraw from the WHO, the country will lose its capacity to keep track of infectious disease emergencies around the world and other global health data. The U.S. has historically been the largest funder of the organization.
Flu continues to ebb in US as pediatric deaths reach 198 -US flu activity declined steadily again last week, with rates of influenza-like illness (ILI) dropping further and staying below baseline levels, but flu-related deaths in children climbed to 198, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its weekly update today.The percentage of outpatient visits for ILI, or respiratory illness, dipped slightly from 2.5% the previous week to 2.4% last week (see CDC graph at left). The number of patients hospitalized for flu was 4,639, down from 6,448 the week before. One state, however—New York—reported high ILI activity. The previous week, no US jurisdiction recorded high or very high activity. Two states have moderate activity, down from five the previous week. Test positivity for flu is now at 6.7%, down from 7.6%. Hospitalizations and deaths are both down, but the cumulative hospitalization rate for this season—125.6 patients per 100,000 population—is the highest since the 2010-11 season.The CDC confirmed 10 new pediatric flu deaths, bringing the season's total to 198. This compares with 207 deaths last flu season. Nine of the new deaths were from influenza A and 1 from influenza B. Of the 8 influenza A cases for which scientists performed subtyping, 5 were caused by the H1N1 strain, and 3 were H3N2.Meanwhile, COVID-19 levels, already low, continue to ebb, according to CDC data updates today. Wastewater detections last week remained generally low throughout the country. The percentage of overall deaths that were caused by COVID last week stayed steady, at 0.7%, a bit higher than the 0.5% level for flu. In its update on the three leading respiratory illnesses—flu, COVID, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)—the CDC notes that, nationally, flu (6.7%), RSV (2.5%), and COVID-19 (3.4%) test positivity decreased from the previous week. Wastewater levels for influenza A and COVID-19 are low, while for RSV they remain very low.
RSV tied to higher risk of death in adults; severe RSV linked to prematurity in kids -New studies on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in both adults and young children show that infections are linked to a higher risk of death in adults, and children born prematurely or with pulmonary or neurologic conditions are at greater risk of severe RSV infections.In research presented this week during the annual Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases meeting in Vienna (ESCMID Global 2025), researchers presented new data showing that adults with RSV acute respiratory infections face a 2.7-fold higher risk of death within 1 year of infection.And, in a cohort study of children hospitalized with RSV in 2022 and 2023 published in in JAMA Network Open, severe RSV disease was more likely among those age 2 or older with pulmonary and neurologic, neuromuscular, or developmental conditions; for younger kids, age younger than 6 months and prematurity were the main risk factors.At ESCMID, researchers said their findings underscore the very real threat RSV poses to older adults.The research comes from a Danish nationwide cohort study of 5,289 adults (18 years and older) diagnosed as having RSV acute respiratory infection (RSV-ARI) from 2011 to 2022. Those patients were compared to 15,867 matched controls from the general population. Clinical and economic outcomes were assessed 1 year following RSV-ARI onset.During the follow-up period, in addition to increased risk of death, exacerbations of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases) and asthma were 3.1 and 4.6 times more frequent in RSV-ARI patients, respectively.Hospitalization rates for RSV-ARI patients were more than double those of the control group (57% versus 28%), and intensive care unit admissions were nearly four times higher (5.3% versus 1.4%), according to a press release from ESCMID.In JAMA Network Open, an observational cohort study conducted at two Canadian hospitals showed prematurity, as well as neurologic, pulmonary, and developmental delays, were associated with more severe RSV-AIR, especially in infants 6 months and younger.Severe disease was defined as a composite variable of noninvasive ventilation (continuous or bilevel positive airway pressure), invasive mechanical ventilation, or death during hospital admission.The study was conducted in 2022 and 2023 and included 709 case-patients (median age, 13.1 months; 442 boys [62.3%]) who were admitted with RSV-associated ARI. Of the patients, 452 (63.8%) were younger than 2 years, and 257 (36.2%) were aged 2 years or older.Patients with severe disease were younger than those with nonsevere disease (median age, 2.6 months compared to 18.6 months).Pulmonary disease and use of home oxygen were associated with severe infection (adjusted risk ratio [ARR], 2.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30 to 4.68) and neurologic, neuromuscular, and developmental conditions (ARR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.03 to 3.49) were associated with severe disease among children aged 2 years or older.Prematurity was also associated with severe disease in those 2 years and younger (ARR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.89).
Study highlights impact of invasive Staph infections in low–birth-weight infants -- A study of infants hospitalized in US neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) shows that low–birth-weight infants are highly vulnerable to invasive Staphylococcus aureusinfections, researchers reported yesterday in JAMA Pediatrics. Using data from a national convenience sample of 315 US NICUs from 2016 through 2021, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that 1,724 (0.4%) of 468,201 infants experienced a late-onset invasive S aureus infection during their NICU admission, with a total of 1,762 events, most of which were bloodstream infections (85.4%). Most infants with invasive infections were 32 weeks' gestational age or younger (80.9%), very low birth weight (VLBW) (76.5%), and/or had a central line during their hospital stay (87.5%). The incidence rate was 37.6 infections per 10,000 hospitalized infants, and 12.1% of infected infants died. Birth weight was inversely correlated with incidence, with VLBW infants—who comprised only 12.7% of the total cohort—experiencing a more than 20-fold higher incidence relative to infants born weighing at least 1,500 grams (3.3 pounds; 227.1 vs 10.1 infections per 10,000 infants). In addition, most deaths following invasive infection (90.4%) occurred in VLBW infants.The estimated absolute difference in 7-day all-cause mortality in infants with an invasive S aureusinfection compared with matched controls was 5.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.8% to 6.8%). The study authors note that the incidence rate of invasive S aureus infection in US NICUs has declined from the previous estimate of 44.8 infections per 10,000 hospitalized infants, which was based on data from 1997 to 2012. They attribute the decline to an expansion of S aureus prevention programs in US NICUs. But the incidence rate among VLBW infants has remained relatively stable.
Data reveal high global variability of antibiotic resistance in group B strep - A review and meta-analysis of studies from 57 countries highlights varying patterns of antibiotic resistance in group B Streptococcus (GBS) strains, an international team of researchers reported this week in Frontiers in Microbiology. GBS is a leading cause of severe infections in vulnerable groups such as newborns, the elderly, and pregnant women. Although the pathogen has remained susceptible to penicillin and ampicillin, resistance has increasingly been reported against macrolides, lincosamides, and fluoroquinolones. Of particular concern is rising resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin, which are options for patients with penicillin allergies. Since prior studies on resistance to GBS have been limited to specific regions or antibiotics, the researchers set out to evaluate the prevalence of resistance globally. The meta-analysis of 266 studies revealed significant variability in GBS resistance rates. The resistance rates for penicillin (1.7%) and ampicillin (3.1%) were low, with no significant heterogeneity observed. Vancomycin (1.4%) and linezolid (0.8%) also showed low resistance rates, which suggests they remain reliable for treating GBS. But clindamycin (29.3%), erythromycin (35%), azithromycin (40.1%), and clarithromycin (43.4%) had notably higher resistance rates, with significant heterogeneity. And tetracycline (80.1%) and doxycycline (64.9%) exhibited extremely high resistance rates. Subgroup analyses revealed disparities in resistance rates based on country, continent, and methodologic categories, which the study authors say suggests that local factors, including antibiotic prescribing patterns and access to healthcare resources, play crucial roles in shaping resistance patterns.The study authors say the analysis emphasizes the "complex and multifaceted nature" of antibiotic resistance in GBS.
Study suggests US sepsis patients are overtreated - An analysis of patients treated for sepsis at US hospitals shows that close to 90% were likely overtreated, researchers reported yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases.The study, led by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and Harvard Medical School, reviewed the medical records of patients treated for suspected sepsis with anti–methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or antipseudomonal antibiotics in the emergency departments of seven US hospitals from 2019 through 2022. In light of concerns that a federally mandated sepsis treatment protocol (SEP-1) that calls for antibiotic administration within 3 hours of sepsis onset might be driving unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotic use in patients with noninfectious conditions or viral infections, the researchers wanted to assess patients' post hoc likelihood of bacterial infection. They also assessed outcomes, whether narrower-spectrum antibiotics could have been used, and possible antibiotic-associated complications. Among 46,245 patients treated for suspected sepsis during the study period, 600 were randomly selected for review. Of those patients, 411 (68.5%) had definite or probable bacterial infections and 189 (31.5%) had possible but less likely or definitely no bacterial infections. Among the patients with definite or probable bacterial infection, 79.1% received overly broad antibiotics. Altogether, 86% of patients may have been overtreated. Potential antibiotic-associated complications developed in 17.3% of patients within 90 days, most of them involving new infection or colonization with a drug-resistant organism. Mortality was higher for patients with less likely or definitely no bacterial infection versus definite or probable bacterial infections (9.0% vs 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70 to 2.98), but antibiotic-associated complication rates were similar (14.8% vs 18.5%; aOR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.60 to 1.05).
More than 3 million child deaths in 2022 linked to antimicrobial resistance -A study presented late last week at the annual congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) shows that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was linked to the deaths of 3 million children in 2022. Nearly half of the deaths from AMR-related complications were in children in Southeast Asia and Africa, and many were linked to the use of antibiotics that aren't intended for first-line treatment, according to researchers from the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and the University of Melbourne. Using data from Pfizer's Antimicrobial Testing Leadership and Surveillance (ATLAS) database and the Global Burden of Disease study, the researchers assessed AMR-related deaths in children in 83 countries. They focused on World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogens and calculated the death burden using the WHO's Access, Watch and Reserve (AWaRe) antibiotic classification system. The AWaRe system is a tool created by the WHO to monitor and evaluate global use of antibiotics and limit the spread of AMR. In 2019, the WHO launched a campaign to increase the global proportion of Access antibiotic use to at least 60%. "All countries must strike a balance between ensuring access to life-saving antibiotics and slowing drug resistance by reserving the use of some antibiotics for the hardest-to-treat infections," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus, PhD, said when the campaign was launched. "I urge countries to adopt AWaRe, which is a valuable and practical tool for doing just that." But several studies in recent years have found that hitting the 60% goal has been difficult in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the burden of bacterial infections and AMR rates are higher because of poor sanitation and weak infection prevention and control measures. In some cases, broader-spectrum drugs are needed because of resistance to first-line antibiotics. In addition, because diagnostic tools and antimicrobial stewardship programs are often limited in these countries, patients with bacterial infections don't always get the right antibiotic. The researchers estimated a total of 3,028,970 AMR-related deaths in children in 7 WHO regions in 2022. Of those, more 752,000 were in Southeast Asia, and more than 659,000 were in Africa. At the same time, they found that from 2019 through 2021, the use of Watch antibiotics increased by 160% in Southeast Asia and 126% percent in Africa. The use of Reserve antibiotics, which are last-resort drugs meant for the treatment of multidrug-resistant infections, rose by 45% in Southeast Asia and 125% in Africa. In Southeast Asia, pediatric deaths associated with the use of Watch and Reserve antibiotics accounted for 69% of all AMR-related pediatric deaths. In Africa, they accounted for 80%. Globally, more than 2 million AMR-associated pediatric deaths in 2022 were associated with Watch and Reserve antibiotics. Analysis of more than 106,000 bacterial isolates, 47% of which were from children under 2, found that resistance patterns varied across priority pathogens, with Escherichia coli showing 30% resistance to Access antibiotics and Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae showing rising resistance to Watch and Reserve antibiotics. Study coauthor Joseph Harwell said that while the increasing use of Watch and Reserve antibiotics in Southeast Asia and Africa might be necessary to combat a concurrent rise in resistant infections in these regions, the dramatic rise in their use presents long-term risks, because it promotes more resistance and further limits treatment options. "Rising resistance to Watch and Reserve antibiotics will ultimately lead to higher treatment failure," Harwell said in an ESCMID press release. "Mortality rates, which are already alarmingly high, will continue to rise significantly, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where access to alternative treatments and advanced medical interventions may be limited.”
Large study ties early-life antibiotic exposure to higher risk of asthma, allergies, other conditions - A new study suggests repeated antibiotic use in early childhood is linked to a host of chronic conditions in children.The study, published this week in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, found that antibiotic exposure before age 2 years was positively associated with asthma, food allergy, hay fever, and intellectual disability, with stronger associations observed following multiple antibiotic courses. The findings were confirmed in a sibling-matched analysis.The findings add to a growing body of evidence that early exposure to antibiotics—which are the most commonly prescribed medication in young children and frequently overused—is associated with increased risk of childhood-onset diseases and neurodevelopmental conditions. Other studies have found links to a higher risk of obesity. The hypothesis is that these conditions may be occurring because of the way antibiotics disrupt the gut microbiome, which is still in development in infants.The study authors say the results highlight the need to limit unnecessary antibiotic use in young children."Antibiotics play a critical role in combatting bacterial infections, but physicians should be judicious when prescribing antibiotics to children under 2, as frequent use may affect long-term health outcomes," lead study author Daniel Horton, MD, of the Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, said in a university press release.
Texas measles outbreak grows; Michigan, Pennsylvania report new outbreaks Texas has reported 20 more measles cases in the past 5 days. The outbreak now stands at 561 cases, with 58 patients requiring hospitalization. The outbreak’s epicenter includes counties in West Texas that are home to a large unvaccinated Mennonite community.Texas officials said Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Garza, Lynn, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry, and Yoakum counties have ongoing measles transmission.Two school-aged girls, both unvaccinated, died in this outbreak. All but 11 case-patients in the current outbreak are unvaccinated or their vaccine status is unknown. Four case-patients have had one dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, while seven have had two doses.Of the 561 cases, 381 are in children 17 years and younger.According to the Texas Department of State Health Services tally, El Paso County has 7 cases, but media reports earlier today said 3 new cases have been identified in that city, raising the total to 8. The 3 most recent cases were reported in an unvaccinated female infant, a vaccinated male teenager, and a 30-year-old woman with unknown vaccination status.In New Mexico, 5 more cases have been identified since last week, raising the state total to 63. New Mexico’s cases have occurred in counties bordering the Texas outbreak.In Michigan, Ingham County has reported a measles case in a 1-year-old girl who had traveled outside the state. State officials are still determining exposures, but the media are reporting a farmer's market and a Michigan State University campus.This is the fifth confirmed case of measles in Michigan in 2025.In Pennsylvania, Erie County now has an outbreak, with two new cases linked to the first case.As of last week, the United States now has 712 measles cases, with 93% of cases being outbreak-related (part of 3 or more related cases).
Montana reports first measles cases since 1990 - Montana public health officials have found five cases of measles in Gallatin County, the first cases of the disease in the Treasure State in more than three decades. Gallatin County is home to the state’s fourth most populated city — Bozeman — and is the second most populated county in the state. A handful of children and adults contracted the disease while traveling outside of Montana, according to the state’s Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHH), leading to the state’s first measles cases since 1990. All of them are isolating at home and are either unvaccinated or their measles vaccine status is unknown, according to officials.“While it is unfortunate to have cases of measles after 35 years of disease inactivity in Montana, we have been working diligently with our local partners to prepare,” Maggie Cook-Shimanek, DPHHS’s public health physician, said in a statement.State health officials identified two locations where residents could have potentially been exposed to the virus: North Coast Electric at 7401 Shedhorn Drive in Bozeman, 7:30-10:30 a.m., and Interwest Tire at 6460 Jackrabbit Lane in Belgrade, 12-4 p.m., on April 14. Measles is an extremely infectious disease that is airborne. The virus can remain in the air and on infected surfaces for up to two hours. One person infected with the virus can infect 9 out of 10 people around them if they are unvaccinated, according to the World Health Organization.
US measles total climbs to 800 cases, 10 outbreaks Amid a rising number of outbreaks, including a large one centered in West Texas, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its weekly update reported 88 more measles cases, pushing the national total to 800.The pace of activity in the first 4 months of the year is well on track to pass the 2019 total of 1,274 cases, which was the most since the United States officially eliminated the virus in 2000. In its update, the CDC said 94% of cases this year are part outbreaks, which have reached 10 now—3 more than the previous week.Half of all US states have reported cases, some of which are linked to international travel. Among illnesses reported so far, 96% of patients were unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. So far, 85 patients (11%) were hospitalized, with the number of deaths remaining at 3.In the main outbreak hot spot, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) today reported36 more cases since April 15, boosting the state's total to 597, of which 371 are from Gaines County, though 24 other counties have also reported cases. In its list of other measles cases, the TDSHS reported 15 case-patients from Upshur County in the eastern part of the state, 2 of whom are Upshur County residents. Officials are examining the residency status of the other patients to determine if the cases are linked to the West Texas outbreak.Outbreaks in New Mexico, Kansas, and Oklahoma have also been linked to the West Texas outbreak. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment this week reported 5 more cases, bringing its total to 37 infections in eight counties. Yesterday the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Mid-Michigan District Health Department reported the state's first measles outbreak since 2019, which involves three cases from Montcalm County in the western part of the state. Official added that the outbreak was initially linked to a large ongoing outbreak in Ontario, Canada.In other outbreak developments, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services yesterday confirmed the state's first measles cases since 1990. Officials said they are investigating five cases, which include children and adults living in Gallatin County who were exposed to measles while traveling outside of the state.
Third measles death - by Katelyn Jetelina Your Local Epidemiologist Another child has died of measles. An 8-year-old girl. Unvaccinated. No underlying health conditions. This is unbelievably tragic—and entirely preventable. This is the third death in just three months—something we haven’t seen in the U.S. in decades.Since measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, we’ve seen outbreaks—most notably in California (starting in Disneyland) and in New York among the Hasidic Jewish community. But even in those large outbreaks, we did not see multiple deaths like this. Before this year, there had only been three measles deaths since 2000:
- 2015: A 28-year-old immunocompromised woman in Washington was exposed in a clinic.
- 2003: A 75-year-old traveler from California with pneumonia. The other was a 13-year-old immunocompromised child (post–bone marrow transplant) living between Illinois and Mexico.
Today’s situation is different. It’s younger, healthier kids. And it’s happening more often.As of Saturday, there were 636 measles cases nationwide, 569 in the Panhandle outbreak alone, and 3 deaths. But that death toll doesn’t quite make sense. This outbreak may be significantly underreported and the largest in decades. Other signs point in the same direction, including very sick hospitalized patients (reflecting delays in seeking care), and epidemiologists are encountering resistance to case investigations. Of course, there’s another possibility: this could simply be a statistical anomaly. Three deaths among a few hundred cases isn’t impossible—it’s just extremely rare. We’ve seen similar situations before. In 1991, for example, an outbreak in Philadelphia caused 1,400 cases and 9 pediatric deaths. In that case, religious leaders discouraged medical care, relying on prayer instead.But whether this is an undercount or an outlier, one thing is clear: we are in new, unsettling territory.
Saudi Arabia reports cases of invasive meningococcal disease linked to Umrah - The World Health Organization (WHO) said today that more than a dozen cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) have been linked to a religious pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. In a disease outbreak update, the WHO said Saudi officials reported 11 confirmed cases of IMD on March 13. All 11 cases were associated with pilgrims who had performed Umrah in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to March 12. All case-patients received treatment in Saudi Arabia and have fully recovered.In addition, officials with the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional office reported six isolated cases of IMD among people who had recently returned from Umrah.IMD is a life-threatening bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis. Symptoms can include sepsis and meningitis and can progress rapidly without prompt, appropriate treatment. Outbreaks are more likely to occur in settings that promote transmission of infection, such as religious pilgrimages like Hajj and Umrah. The WHO notes that while Saudi Arabia has required quadrivalent (four-strain) meningococcal vaccination prior to traveling to the kingdom for Hajj and Umrah in recent years, vaccination compliance for Umrah has declined over the past 2 years, with only 54% of international Umrah pilgrims complying as of March 10. "Given the recent notification of these cases linked to Umrah, WHO strongly advises all individuals planning to attend mass gatherings such as Hajj and Umrah to receive vaccination against meningococcal disease at least 10 days prior to travel," the agency said. Last year, 12 cases of IMD associated with Umrah and/or pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia were reported by US, UK, and French officials.
Five people, 27 animals tested positive for tularemia in Minnesota last year -In 2024, five people and 27 animals in Minnesota contracted the rare bacterial disease tularemia in the seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, state health authorities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported yesterday in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Two of the infected people reported recently mowing over animal carcasses; all were hospitalized for a median of 6 days and released without complications. Each year from 2000 to 2023, a median of one person and two animals in the state were diagnosed as having the potentially serious illness, usually transmitted via tick or deer-fly bites, inhalation of contaminated material, or contact with infected animals, the authors noted. Animal tularemia cases spiked in Minnesota in 2023, with 20 cases; no human cases were reported. Tularemia cases have been rising in the United States, climbing by more than half from 2011 to 2022, the CDC reported in December 2024.Caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, tularemia typically affects 200 to 300 people each year in the United States, most often in the central part of the country. Symptoms depend on how the person was exposed and usually include fever and local signs such as swollen lymph nodes and skin ulcers. There is no Food and Drug Administration–approved vaccine against tularemia. Of the 27 tularemia-positive animals reported via lab reports or veterinarians in 2024, 21 (78%) were domestic cats, 5 (19%) were domestic dogs, and 1 (4%) was a wild rabbit. Most animals had a nonlocalized typhoidal infection or oropharyngeal manifestations characterized by fever, mouth ulcers, and swollen lymph glands.Four animals (15%) died of their infections, and two (7%) were euthanized due to a poor prognosis or concern about costs. Three pet owners and one veterinary worker were exposed, and one owner took antibiotics after a scratch from an infected cat, but none developed tularemia.
CDC issues level 2 travel notice for yellow fever in South America - Yesterday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a level 2 travel notice (practice enhanced precautions) about yellow fever in South America due to a rise in cases and spread to newly affected areas of Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru.The travel alert urges travelers to the region to get a yellow fever vaccine at least 10 days prior to leaving the United States and says those vaccinated 10 or more years ago may want to consider a booster dose. Except for Chile and most of Argentina, all of South America now carries a yellow fever vaccine recommendation, per the CDC’s travel alert site. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned earlier this month of growing yellow fever activity in South America. In the first 3 months of 2025, 131 human cases were confirmed, with 53 deaths. In all of 2024, 61 cases were reported, 30 of which were fatal. Yellow fever is spread by mosquitoes, and the CDC urges travelers to protect against mosquito bites. Though most cases of yellow fever are self-limiting, about 15% of people infected with yellow fever virus develop severe illness that can lead to liver disease, bleeding, shock, organ failure, yellowing skin and eyes, and sometimes death, according to the CDC.
Colombia declares public health emergency for deadly yellow fever outbreak - Colombia's health ministry yesterday declared a public health emergency owing to the circulation of yellow fever in several regions of the country.In a statement, officials said that, since September 2024, the country has recorded 75 cases, 34 of them fatal, for a case-fatality rate of 45.3%. Cases have been reported in nine departments, though most are in Tolima, located in the Andean region in the west central part of the country. The deaths were in eight districts, most of them in Tolima. "The outbreak has shown progressive expansion, especially in areas of the Amazon basin, the Magdalena River, and departments such as Meta, in a short period of time," the ministry said. "Furthermore, cases have occurred in territories where they had not been historically reported, such as the municipality of Neira, Caldas, located in the coffee-growing region."Though urban transmission in Colombia hasn't been reported since 1929, some cases have been detected in populated centers and on the outskirts of cities that have low population densities, highlighting the risk of spread to larger urban areas, the ministry said.The government took several steps in September to contain the spread, including forming and sending vaccination teams to all affected areas. In late March, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an epidemiologic alert about a rise in yellow fever cases in countries in the Americas, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. And earlier this week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a level 2 travel noticefor yellow fever in South America.
Study shows Oropouche virus may be more widespread than previously thought A new study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases shows the Oropouche virus may be more widespread in Latin America than previously thought, and as many as 1 in 10 people living in the region have likely experienced a prior infection with the pathogen. First identified in the 1950s, the virus causes nonspecific symptoms that are usually mild, including fever, chills, headache, pain in the limbs and, in some cases, nausea and skin rashes. The virus is mainly spread by biting midges and possibly someCulex mosquitoes.But since a large outbreak began in 2023, more case reports of severe complications of infection in pregnant women and at least two deaths have been reported among more than 20,000 cases seen in Latin and Caribbean countries.To understand the shift, researchers from Berlin’s Charite Hospital analyzed more than 9,400 blood samples collected from healthy and sick people in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru between 2001 and 2022. Antibodies against the virus were present in 6.3% of the samples. Samples taken from people living in the Amazon region showed a 10% prevalence of antibodies, while only 2% of samples from Costa Rica showed antibodies.Moreover, rain and weather patterns had a direct influence on the number of Oropoche virus infections, suggesting it was climate and environment — and not viral changes — fueling the current outbreak. “We therefore assume that the current Oropouche outbreak has been fueled by weather phenomenons like El Niño,” said Jan Felix Drexler, PhD, head of the virus epidemiology laboratory at Charite said in apress release from Charite. "By contrast, we have not found evidence that changing properties of the virus could provide an alternative explanation for the high case count at present. I think it’s possible that Oropouche virus will become even more widespread in the future as climate change progresses.”
Mexico's fatal H5N1 case involved D1.1 genotype, which has been tied to serious illness - In updates on H5N1 avian flu today, the World Health Organization (WHO) shared new details about Mexico's recent fatal case, the country's first H5N1 infection, along with an updated risk assessment from the WHO and two global animal health groups.In an outbreak notice, the WHO said the child from Durango state didn't have any underlying health conditions and became ill on March 7 with fever, malaise, and vomiting. The patient, who according to earlier reports was a 3-year-old girl from Durango state, was hospitalized 6 days later for respiratory failure and was treated with antiviral drugs the following day.The child was transferred to a tertiary care hospital and died on April 8 due to respiratory complications. Along with the initial unsubtypable influenza A virus, tests also identified parainfluenza 3. The H5N1 finding was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on April 1, and genetic sequencing revealed that the virus belonged to the 2.3.4.4b clade and the D1.1 genotype, the same one linked to serious infections in the United States and British Columbia, Canada. Contact tracing of 91 people found no other infections, and the source of the girl's illness remains under investigation. No poultry outbreaks were reported in Durango state, but there were some H5N1 detections in a vulture at a zoo, Canadian geese at a dam, and a bird from a park in the state.
More H5N1 detections in US dairy cows and poultry; WHO unveils H5 surveillance guide - Over the last few days the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has reported four more H5N1 avian flu detections in dairy cattle, two from California and two from Idaho, lifting the national total to 1,009 from 17 states since March 2024.Also, APHIS has confirmed more H5N1 detections in poultry flocks from two states. They include two more detections in live bird markets in New York’s Queens County and a backyard location in Jefferson County. The virus was also detected at two locations in New Mexico, including a poultry farm in Curry County and a backyard flock in Roosevelt County. In other H5N1 developments, the World Health Organization (WHO) on April 11 released new guidanceon surveillance for human infections with H5 avian influenza viruses. It said the goal is to rapidly detect and characterize any human H5 infections to allow prompt response actions, assess trends and health risks, and guide global flu pandemic preparedness. The group emphasized that under the International Health Regulations, countries are required to notify the WHO within 24 hours of any lab-confirmed human case involving a new subtype, based on the WHO case definition of being unusual or unexpected and potentially posing a serious public health impact. The new guidance also included a data reporting guide.In a related US development, the USDA’s APHIS last week announced $15.3 million in funding for research projects to enhance preparedness, early detection, and rapid response to the diseases that threaten US livestock. The funding will support 68 projects led by 24 state agriculture departments, five tribal entities, 35 universities, three livestock groups, and one federal partner. One third of the funding is geared toward enhanced biosecurity.
A spray in a cow's nose could soon protect it, and people, from bird flu - It was a first for cows last March when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the highly pathogenic avian flu virus H5N1 had been found in cattle. Since then, most of the 70 human cases of the disease in the U.S. have come from interaction with infected herds. Now researchers from the University of Maryland and the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will work to head off infections in cows and people alike by developing a nasal vaccine to protect dairy cattle from bird flu with support from a $650,000 grant from the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Preventing transmission of the disease from cows to people lessens the chances it will evolve into a human virus that can be passed from person to person, infectious disease experts say. Xiaoping Zhu, professor and chair of the University of Maryland's Department of Veterinary Medicine, along with collaborator Wenbin Tuo of the ARS, plan to use the grant funding to adapt the nasal spray technology they originally developed for COVID-19 and human influenza. The vaccine could also potentially be used in humans, if necessary, they said. "Preventing the initial infection and spread of H5N1 in cows means reducing exposure to the virus for other mammals, dairy workers and the general public," Zhu said. "And that is critical to managing the spread of bird flu." H5N1, the current strain of bird flu circulating around the U.S., is a moving target that not only kills wild birds and poultry, but has rapidly adapted to sicken other species beyond dairy cattle and humans to include domestic cats, foxes, raccoons and even seals. Although only one person has died of the virus so far—a backyard chicken farmer in Louisiana—scientists are concerned that as more people are exposed to bird flu by animals, the more opportunities the virus has to mutate into an illness that could be transmitted between people, which is currently impossible.
CCWD spreads into more Iowa counties -- Chronic wasting disease(CWD) has been found in five more Iowa counties, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) told the Cedar Rapids–based Gazette.The newly affected counties, identified during the April 2024 to March 2025 CWD surveillance season, include Cedar, Davis, Shelby, Story, and Wapello. The new detections bring the CWD-positive county total in Iowa to 29. Cases in Pottawattamie and Fremont counties were reported in January 2025.The season case total was 135 of 5,493 (2.5%) deer tested, up from 128 in 2023-24, 96 in 2022-23, 52 in 2021-22, and 21 in 2020-21. In total, 521 of the 106,000 (0.5%) Iowa deer tested for CWD since 2022 have had the fatal neurologic disease of cervids such as deer, moose, and elk.CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy—the same disease group as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or "mad cow" disease. These diseases are caused by abnormally folded infectious proteins called prions. Human CWD cases haven't been reported, but health officials recommend not consuming the meat of CWD-positive animals and advise hunters who harvest deer in CWD-endemic areas to have their deer tested before eating the venison.
Ohio documents first CWD case in Morrow County -Ohio's Morrow County is the latest to report a first-time chronic wasting disease (CWD) case, the Ohio Division of Wildlife told the Country Journal.The rest of the 23 CWD-positive deer harvested by hunters during the 2024-25 hunting season were found in Allen, Hardin, Marion, and Wyandot counties. In total, 5,783 white-tailed deer were tested for the disease, for a positivity rate of 0.4%.CWD, a neurologic disease that is fatal to deer and other cervids such as elk and and moose, was first identified in a wild deerin Ohio in December 2020 and in captive deer in 2015. The disease is caused by infectious misfolded proteins called prions, which are transmitted among cervids through contact with body fluids or environmental contamination. There is no cure.
Trump admin seeks to curtail reach of ESA protections - The Trump administration launched its campaign to shrink Endangered Species Act protections Wednesday by proposing to curb what it means to “harm” wildlife so that the law would exclude modification of habitats.The redefinition of “harm” by the Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries would confine the notion of hurting wildlife to actions against the species in question. The potentially far-reaching move sidelines a 1995 Supreme Court decision and upends a decadeslong practice across both Republican and Democratic administration.The proposal also kick-starts what’s going to be a heated debate.The Interior Department, the FWS and NOAA Fisheries did not provide additional comment beyond the upcoming 11-page Federal Register notice. Others were quick to join the fray.
Trump admin proposes redefining 'harm' to endangered animals -The Trump administration aims to remove degradation of habitat from its definition of "harm" to endangered species, proposing Wednesday a rule change that would open the door to human activity in ecologically sensitive environments. The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the definition of "harm" in the Endangered Species Act should exclude "actions that impair the habitat of protected species." Environmental groups said the rule change would allow timber, oil and mining activity, as well as other activities by individuals and the government, to destroy the habitats of endangered animals. "For 50 years, the ESA has saved numerous species—including iconic American species like bald eagles, gray wolves, Florida manatees, and humpback whales—from extinction," environmental law organization Earthjustice said. "One key to this success has been its definition of harm, which recognizes the common-sense concept that destroying a forest, beach, river, or wetland that a species relies on for survival constitutes harm to that species," it said, adding that the group was prepared to challenge the proposal in court. "There's just no way to protect animals and plants from extinction without protecting the places they live, yet the Trump administration is opening the floodgates to immeasurable habitat destruction," said Noah Greenwald, codirector of endangered species at the Center for Biological Diversity. "Without a prohibition on habitat destruction, spotted owls, sea turtles, salmon and so many more imperiled animals won't stand a chance," said Greenwald. "Trump is trying to drive a knife through the heart of the Endangered Species Act." The proposal will now be open to public comment for 30 days. Since its 1973 enactment, the Endangered Species Act has been credited with saving iconic species such as the gray wolf, bald eagle and grizzly bear from extinction.
Drug pollution in water is making salmon take more risks -- "Out of sight, out of mind" is how we often treat what is flushed down our toilets. But the drugs we take, from anxiety medications to antibiotics, don't simply vanish after leaving our bodies. Many are not fully removed by wastewater treatment systems and end up in rivers, lakes, and streams, where they can linger and affect wildlife in unexpected ways.In our new study, we investigated how a sedative called clobazam, commonly prescribed for sleep and anxiety disorders, influences the migration of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from the River Dal in central Sweden to the Baltic Sea.Our findings suggest that even tiny traces of drugs in the environment can alter animal behavior in ways that may shape their survival and success in the wild. A recent global survey of the world's rivers found drugs were contaminating waterways on every continent—even Antarctica. These substances enteraquatic ecosystems not only through our everyday use, as active compounds pass through our bodies and into sewage systems, but also due to improper disposal and industrial effluents.To date, almost 1,000 different active pharmaceutical substances have been detected in environments worldwide.Particularly worrying is the fact that the biological targets of many of these drugs, such as receptors in the human brain, are also present in a wide variety of other species. That means animals in the wild can also be affected. In fact, research over the last several decades has demonstrated that pharmaceutical pollutants can disrupt a wide range of traits in animals, including their physiology, development, and reproduction.The behavioral effects of pharmaceutical pollutants have received relatively less attention, but laboratory studies show that a variety of these contaminants can change brain function and behavior in fish and other animals. This is a major cause for concern, given that actions critical to survival, including avoiding predators, foraging for food, and social interaction, can all be disrupted.As part of a large field study in central Sweden, we attached implants that slowly released clobazam (a common pharmaceutical pollutant) and also miniature tracking transmitters to juvenile Atlantic salmon on their seaward migration through the Dal. We found that clobazam increased the success of this river-to-sea migration, as more clobazam-treated salmon reached the Baltic Sea compared with untreated fish. These clobazam-exposed salmon also took less time to pass through two major hydropower dams that often delay or block salmon migration. To better understand these changes, we followed up with a laboratory experiment which revealed that clobazam also altered how fish group and move together—what scientists call shoaling behavior—when faced with a predator.This suggests that the migration changes observed in the wild may stem from drug-induced shifts in social dynamics and risk-taking behavior.
Trump opens national marine monument to commercial fishing -The Trump administration is opening a national marine monument to commercial fishing, it announced Thursday.The White House issued an executive order that allows for commercial fishing within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, a nearly 500,000 square mile area — double the size of the state of Texas — in the central Pacific Ocean. The monument, first established by former President George W. Bush and later expanded by former President Obama, contains coral reef and island habitats. Thousands of species can be found there, including coral reefs, sea turtles, whales, dolphins, sharks and manta rays.In a separate executive order, President Trump indicated more monuments could similarly be opened to commercial fishing in the future. That order directed the leaders of the Commerce and Interior departments to review all other marine monuments and recommend whether commercial fishing would also be allowed within their boundaries.
Conservation group names Mississippi River 'most endangered,' cites proposed FEMA cuts -A conservation group on Wednesday named the Mississippi River the “most endangered river of 2025,” citing threats to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which plays a key role in federal flood management.American Rivers, a nonprofit environmental advocacy group, said the Mississippi River in recent years has faced “increasingly frequent and severe floods,” which have damaged homes and businesses and worsened the health of the river, which provides drinking water for 20 million people.The organization said the federal government plays a key role in protecting the river and helping homeowners prepare for, and rebuild after, major flooding.Amid concerns about further layoffs at FEMA and as government officials — including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA — threaten to abolish the agency, the conservation group said the risk to the Mississippi River is exceptionally high.“Communities along the river need significant support for disaster prevention and response, as well as river restoration – but the fate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency hangs in the balance,” the report read.The group called on the Trump administration to “modernize FEMA to improve river health and maximize the safety, security, and prosperity of Mississippi River communities.”“The Mississippi River is vital to our nation’s health, wealth and security. We drink from it, we grow our food with it, we travel on it, we live alongside it, and simply, we admire its beauty,” said Mike Sertle, American Rivers’ central region director, in a statement.
About a sixth of global cropland likely polluted with toxic metals: Study - Up to 17 percent of the planet’s agricultural land may be contaminated by toxic heavy metals, a new study has found. As many as 1.4 billion people reside in areas with soil dangerously polluted with compounds like arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, nickel and lead, according to the study, published in Science. Toxic heavy metal pollution can come from a range of sources, including both natural and human activities, noted the multinational team of researchers, led by Deyi Hou of China’s Tsinghua University. Regardless of the source, such pollution threatens both ecosystems and human health, the scientists warned. Many of these persistent metals can jeopardize biodiversity, water quality, crop yields and food safety, via bioaccumulation in farm animals. “Global soil pollution by toxic metals has been studied for decades,” the scientists stated. “However, quantitative estimates of their impact on soil quality and spatially explicit mapping of soil pollution on a global scale are lacking.” \ To assess the global distribution of toxic metals in soil, the researchers compiled data from 1,493 regional studies that included 796,084 samples — and then identified where concentrations surpass safety thresholds. Using machine learning and modeling techniques, the researchers estimated that between 14 and 17 percent of global cropland — or about 600 million acres — is contaminated by at least one toxic heavy metal. They found that cadmium was the most widespread culprit, especially in parts of South and East Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Nickel, chromium, arsenic and cobalt also exceeded safety thresholds in many regions, due to a mix of natural geological sources and human activities such as mining and industry, according to the study. The researchers also identified a transcontinental “metal-enriched corridor” that they described as stretching across low-latitude Eurasia, in line with the cumulative effects of ancient mining, breakdown of metal-rich bedrock and leaching over time. In total, they estimated that between 900 million and 1.4 billion people are living in high-risk areas.
Soil organic carbon is at risk in a large part of European agricultural land --The topsoil organic carbon pool is at high risk in 43 to 83 million hectares of EU and UK agricultural land, primarily in cool and humid regions, according to a JRC-led study published in Nature Communications. This corresponds to 23% to 44% of all EU+UK agricultural land. Between 26 and 50 million hectares are not at risk and have the potential for storing additional carbon, since they are far from saturation and can efficiently protect carbon. The study concludes that the majority of EU agricultural soils require additional protective measures, such as cover cropping, improved crop rotations, reduced tillage, deep rooting crops, increasing organic amendments and agroforestry. This study provides insights that can be used to implement more targeted and effective carbon management practices in agricultural soils, optimizing both the area covered and the interventions that maximize carbon storage in stable form. The topsoil of agricultural areas in the EU alone contains more than 10 times the CO2 of current EU annual total greenhouse gas emissions. Soil organic carbon also supports the productivity of soils, by improving their structural condition, water holding capacity and nutrient supply, rendering them more resilient to disturbances related to land use and climate conditions. The climate crisis has increased the loss of soil organic carbon. European agricultural soils have recently been estimated to experience a relative loss of 0.75% of total soil organic carbon between 2009 and 2018. This may indicate that further action should be put in place, to reverse this trend towards soil carbon accrual. The research team's findings, which are based on data from the largest harmonized soil database (LUCAS soil survey), challenge the traditional notion of a universal maximum saturation capacity. Instead, they suggested an "effective saturation capacity," which varies across different pedo-climatic zones, triggering the conceptualization of the new risk index. The proposed risk index combines both soil organic carbon changes (hazard) and soil organic carbon saturation (vulnerability) to identify areas with the highest risk for further carbon losses as well as areas with potential for accrual.
Illegal poisonings imperil European raptors and could disrupt ecosystem health --A recent comprehensive assessment on the poisoning of raptors across Europe does not yield good news. This is according to the new paper "Poisoning in Europe Between 1996 and 2016: A Continental Assessment of the Most Affected Species and the Most Used Poisons," published in the Journal of Raptor Research. A large team of raptor researchers amassed retrospective data on poisoning events across 22 European countries between 1996 and 2016. Carbofuran and aldicarb were the most common toxins reported and disproportionately affected scavenging raptors, especially in Northern Europe. As high-level participants in trophic interactions and providers of ecosystem services, raptors are crucial agents of Europe's ecological health. These poisonings are, therefore, troubling. They are also illegal. Poison is a well-known threat to raptor populations globally and every region has its star culprits: in the tropics, it's veterinary drugs like diclofenac and the insecticide carbofuran. In temperate zones, rodenticides. In Europe, however, there hasn't been a continent-wide assessment of illegal raptor poisoning events—until now. Lead author Ralph Buij, from The Peregrine Fund, and 32 co-authors, invited raptor conservationists, toxicologists, and experts from wildlife forensic networks across the continent to submit their data on raptor poisoning events from 1996 and 2016. The team crunched the resulting dataset through multiple lenses including seasonality, species diet, whether poisonings resulted from single or multiple toxins, and whether poisoning occurrence changed over the course of the study period, including after European trade bans on relevant toxins. Their results were sobering. A total of 3,196 poisoning events were reported, comprising 37 raptor species. Of these, six are Threatened according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's 2024 status report, including the Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug). Four are Vulnerable, three are Near Threatened, including the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), and 15 have globally decreasing populations. The most commonly poisoned species overall was the Eurasian Buzzard (Buteo buteo), also Europe's most common and widespread raptor. Carbofuran, aldicarb, parathion, and alpha-chloralose were the four most commonly detected poisons, the first three of which are pesticides that were banned by the European Union (EU) during the first half of the study's timeframe. Reasons for poisoning vary but include deliberate targeting of raptor species that are considered a threat to agricultural interests or game hunting. These poisonings usually occur through illegal placement of poisoned baits. Sometimes the baits are intended for other predators like foxes, yet result in raptor deaths through the scavenging process. Peak seasonality for reported poisoning events occurred in early spring, a result likely related to the timing of agricultural activities, game protection, and the onset of hunting efforts. Unfortunately, spring is the same season during which most raptors begin nesting activities. Raptors have long life spans, raise relatively few young, and don't breed until later in life. All of these life history traits make deaths of breeding adults alarming from a demographic lens. More than half of the carbofuran and aldicarb poisonings reported in this study occurred after the substances were banned from use in Europe, which points to a pervasive continent-wide issue of illegal application. In the Mediterranean, poisonings are thought to be responsible for more than half the total raptor mortalities and local extirpations.
Spring drought threatens Europe’s farms and rivers - — From the front lines in Ukraine to ordinarily damp Belgium, a shortage of rainfall has left much of Europe parched halfway through spring. The early drought spells trouble for supply chains and farmers — with potential knock-on effects for industry, trade and global food security, adding to the economic turmoil triggered by President Donald Trump’s erratic tariff announcements.The European Drought Observatory’s most recent update from mid-March places parts of Poland, Ukraine, Greece, the Balkans, Sweden, Ireland, Germany and more in its orange “warning” category, while the southeastern Spanish coast is already on red alert.While factors such as water mismanagement contribute to dry conditions, scientists say that the effects of human-made climate change, which include increasingly irregular rainfall patterns and hotter temperatures, will lead to worse and more frequent droughts in Europe.
Study shows the US counties with worst drinking water violations - The U.S. counties with the most egregious water quality violations are concentrated in four states: West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Oklahoma, a new study has found. Standing out among the top 10 such regions was Wyoming County, W.Va., whose public water utility boasted the highest number of infringements in a single water system, according to the study, published Tuesday in the international journal Risk Analysis.About 2 million people nationwide — equivalent to Nebraska’s entire population — do not have running water, and this lack of basic drinking water services tends to occur in clusters, the study authors determined. “This high number is neither equally nor proportionally distributed across the population,” they wrote. With another 30 million people reliant on drinking water systems that violate safety rules, the researchers sought to determine what types of systems are most prone to these deficiencies. Many experts have proposed water privatization — the transfer of public water systems to the ownership or management of private companies — as a potential solution to making U.S. water cleaner and safer. Yet at the same time, the authors explained, opponents have argued that such a switch could cause companies to prioritize profits over public needs.
Intense hailstorm strikes West Virginia as thunderstorms sweep through Upper Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic - Severe thunderstorms swept through West Virginia on Monday, April 14, 2025, as a cold front moving across the upper Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic brought a quarter to ping-pong-sized hail across the state. The cold front also triggered hail fog in parts of Ohio, leading to a car slide-off near Wheelsburg. While the hail wasn’t an extreme event like the storms that ravaged the region in the past months, the intensity of the short-lived hail storm caught the residents off guard and caused widespread damage to homes and vehicles. Dave Allen, co-host of “MetroNews Midday,” said his Teays Valley neighborhood took on damage at around 17:20 local time (LT) Monday evening. Damage was also reported in Putnam County, with some residents reporting golf ball-sized hail damaged windshields and caused dents on their vehicles. A cloudburst was also reported in Clay County, pouring about 50 mm (2 inches) of rain along with hail. The severe weather event triggered hail fog in parts of Ohio, creating treacherous travel conditions and leading to a car slide-off near Wheelsburg. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch had been issued across West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania ahead of the storms. The Watch affected over 5 million people and included more than 2 000 schools and 160 hospitals in the region.
Tornadoes rip through Omaha and Essex as severe weather sweeps across Nebraska and Iowa - (several videos) At least 15 tornadoes touched down in Iowa and Nebraska on April 17, 2025, as a severe weather system swept through the region. Tornadoes were confirmed in Omaha, Nebraska, and Essex, Iowa, damaging homes, toppling power lines, and causing significant disruption to local communities. Tornado damage in Omaha - April 17, 2025. Image credit: EL Jefe The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) received 15 tornado reports across Nebraska and Iowa as a severe weather system moved southward through the state on Thursday, April 17. Ten tornadoes were reported in Nebraska, while 5 were reported in Iowa. While many other tornadoes have been reported in the region, they are yet to be confirmed by the National Weather Service (NWS). A tornado touched down in Omaha at around 19:00 local time on Thursday, prompting people to take shelter as the sirens went off. Tornado sirens also went off in Bennington and Elkhorn. At Eppley Airfield, people took cover for about 15 minutes as the storm approached. YouTube video For a brief period, the NWS flagged the event as “catastrophic” as it passed through the region and moved eastwards. Authorities in Douglas and Washington Counties reached the scene to assess the impact and urged citizens to avoid the area between 72nd Street and 78th Street, from Omaha Trace to Dutch Hall Road. “There are multiple downed power lines, damage to homes, and scattered debris,” the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said. Another tornado was reported near Oakland, Iowa, at around 20:00 local time (LT) on Thursday, and in Essex, although it was hard to assess the twister in the dark. It reportedly snapped trees and power lines and damaged a shed, spreading debris on the roads. Large baseball-sized hail was also reported in many areas across Nebraska and Iowa during the severe weather event. While the severe weather threat in the region has subsided, the full extent of the damage is yet to be assessed. This event is part of the ongoing tornado activity in the United States, which has already seen over 437 tornadoes since the start of the year, resulting in 34 fatalities.
Snowstorm causes multi-vehicle crash on I-70 in Colorado - --A late-season snowstorm brought high winds and heavy snow to the Rockies on Friday, April 18, 2025, creating dangerous travel conditions, causing flight delays, and disrupting sporting events scheduled in the region. Part of the eastbound I-70 between Golden and Silverthorne was closed on Friday, April 18, after a multi-vehicle crash caused by several vehicles spinning out on icy roads. The crash occurred at mile marker 215.5, just east of the Eisenhower Tunnel, resulting in the closure of the tunnel. The route was reopened later the same day after tow companies removed the crashed vehicles, clearing the way for motorists. The baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Colorado Rockies, scheduled for Friday night, was postponed to Sunday, April 20, due to severe weather conditions. The game between the two teams, scheduled for Saturday, April 19, was also delayed by one hour. Air travel was also disrupted by the wintry weather, with 748 flight delays reported at Denver International Airport on Friday, according to FlightAware. Areas around Denver recorded 18 to 20 cm (7 to 8 inches) of snow by Friday morning. Meanwhile, higher elevations in Colorado, including the Loveland and Arapahoe Passes, received more than 38 cm (15 inches) of snow by late Friday night.Dirty rain in Grand Rapids, Michigan linked to atmospheric dust from New Mexico - Western Michigan experienced mud rain on Friday, April 18, 2025, as thunderstorms moved into the region from Wisconsin, leaving a thin layer of mud on vehicles and homes. Satellite image showing cloud layer with dust over Wisconsin and Michigan at 19:00 UTC on April 18, 2025. Thunderstorms moving into western Michigan on Friday afternoon, April 18, produced mud rain across the Grand Rapids area, leaving vehicles and other surfaces coated in a thin layer of sediment-laden water. The dirty rain was caused by dust lifted from surface-level air over New Mexico on Thursday, April 17. Carried northeastward by strong winds ahead of an approaching storm system, the dust was transported at altitudes between 2.4 and 4.6 m (8 000 and 15 000 feet) before reaching Michigan. Ad ends in 20 As this dust-laden air mass moved over Michigan and encountered rainfall, it mixed with precipitation and deposited a layer of mud on contact surfaces. Satellite imagery from NOAA’s GOES-East during the event shows a brownish tint in the cloud cover over parts of Michigan, indicating the presence of elevated dust in the atmosphere. Similar dirty rain events have occurred in Michigan, often linked to dust from arid regions, such as the Plains or the Southwest. In mid-March 2025, a significant dust storm originating from Texas and New Mexico carried particulate matter across the Midwest, resulting in “dirty rain” and “dirty snow” in parts of Michigan, including Gaylord. This event also led to reduced air quality and visibility across the region.
Polar vortex collapse to influence spring weather across U.S. and Canada - Large-scale pressure changes following a strong sudden stratospheric warming event in mid-March 2025, which caused the collapse of the polar vortex, are expected to drive spring weather patterns across Canada and the United States into May. Northerly winds are expected to bring colder air into parts of North America, while high-pressure zones may lead to warmer conditions in the central U.S. and southern Canada. The shifts in weather patterns are consistent with the typical effects observed following a polar vortex disruption, where the jet stream becomes more erratic, leading to unusual temperature distributions and weather events. 3D rendition of the polar vortex split - March 20, 2025. Image credit: StratObserve A strong Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event in mid-March 2025 triggered a rapid rise in stratospheric temperature and pressure, causing the collapse of the polar vortex. It was one of the strongest SSW events in recent history, causing the Polar Vortex to split into two cores, indicating a strong atmospheric disturbance. The polar vortex consists of two parts: an upper (stratospheric) layer and a lower (tropospheric) layer. Changes in the upper layer directly influence surface weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere. The SSW event disrupts the jet stream, allowing cold air from polar regions to move southward, while high-pressure systems can block typical weather patterns, leading to prolonged anomalies. The connection between the stratosphere and troposphere is evident in the downward progression of pressure anomalies, impacting surface weather over weeks The effects of the polar vortex collapse are expected to persist into mid-spring, shaping dynamic weather patterns. Unlike mid-winter, where such events might cause stronger cold outbreaks, spring moderates the intensity of cold air intrusions. The collapse led to a persistent high-pressure anomaly in the stratosphere, which will descend into the lower atmosphere (troposphere) through April and May. Low-pressure systems are expected to circle around these high-pressure zones, influencing weather patterns through northerly flows of colder air into parts of North America. A high-pressure zone over the United States and southern Canada is forecast to bring warmer-than-normal temperatures to these regions through late April. However, a low-pressure system over eastern Canada may cause cooler temperatures in the northeastern United States. Below-normal temperatures are expected in the Midwest and northeastern United States during early May, with a stronger negative temperature anomaly compared to late April due to the lingering effects of the SSW event.
More than 5 000 cattle dead in Bolivia’s Beni region as severe flooding causes over $34 million in livestock losses - YouTube video -Severe flooding in Bolivia’s Beni region has caused the death of more than 5 000 cattle, with losses in the livestock sector exceeding USD 34 million. The flooding, triggered by intense rainfall since early 2025, has submerged large areas of grassland, resulting in cattle deaths due to exhaustion and inadequate food access, according to the Federation of Livestock Farmers of Beni (Fegabeni). The organization completed a field assessment on April 7, 2025, estimating total economic losses in the livestock sector have exceeded USD 34 million. Flooding has submerged vast sections of the Llanos de Moxos, one of the largest tropical wetlands in the world and a key pasture region. Cattle have been forced to swim long distances to reach higher ground, while herders continue to face logistical and economic difficulties in relocating animals. Local estimates indicate that approximately 200 000 cattle—equivalent to 2% of Bolivia’s national herd—are currently at risk due to prolonged exposure to waterlogged conditions, poor nutrition, and physical exhaustion. Data on economic impact indicates that USD 19.2 million of the losses are due to weight loss in cattle. Additional losses include USD 2.2 million from cattle deaths, USD 3.7 million in damage to livestock infrastructure, USD 552 000 in relocation costs, and USD 8.3 million in losses related to other animal species. “When you start moving cattle, it incurs losses. Some cows miscarry, others reject their calves afterward. Some become lame and must be taken to slaughter in San Joaquín. They can’t go on,” said Orlando Álvarez, a cattle producer from San Joaquín, describing the ongoing effects of the flooding. The ongoing flooding in Beni is being described by local authorities and media as one of the most severe events Bolivia has experienced in recent decades. According to data from Bolivia’s Vice Ministry of Civil Defense, the floods have affected more than 590 000 people across the country and resulted in at least 55 fatalities. In addition, over 40 000 homes have been damaged or destroyed, and more than 270 000 ha (667 000 acres) of agricultural land have been inundated.
165 dead as severe flooding and landslides hit Kinshasa, DR Congo - Severe flooding and landslides in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, between April 4 and 11, 2025, have resulted in at least 165 deaths, 28 injuries, and the displacement of more than 7 000 people. Over 60 000 residents face widespread infrastructure damage and loss of access to basic services. s Heavy flooding and landslides in Kinshasa, DR Congo, between April 4 and 11, have resulted in 165 deaths and more than 60 000 people affected. The disaster caused significant infrastructure damage and displaced thousands. The flooding, triggered by torrential rains that caused the Ndjili River to overflow, affected 13 of Kinshasa’s 24 municipalities, including Mont-Amba, Ndjili, Masina, and Limete. Kinshasa, which typically experiences seasonal flooding from November to May, has seen intensifying impacts in recent years due to rapid urban expansion and heavy rainfall. As of April 15, reports confirm 165 fatalities and 170 injuries, a significant rise from the initial estimates of 33. At the time, authorities described the flood as the worst in recent history. Over 7 000 people have been displaced and are currently sheltered in four relief sites, including the Stade des Martyrs, where more than 4 500 people are housed. Over 60 000 residents have been affected, facing property losses and limited access to basic services. Authorities are working to reduce congestion in the shelters. Damage assessments show numerous homes destroyed or damaged as major roads, including access to N’djili International Airport, remain submerged and impassable. Power and water supply disruptions have been reported across several municipalities, while emergency ferries have been deployed to rescue residents stranded by the widespread flooding. This event continues a pattern of severe flooding in Kinshasa, with similar incidents occurring in 2024 and earlier in 2025. The city, with a population of 17 million, remains vulnerable due to rapid urbanization and inadequate drainage infrastructure.
Turkey struck by severe agricultural frost, one of the worst in recent history - Crops worth hundreds of millions of dollars have been damaged across Turkey as severe frost hit the country during a three-day cold spell from April 10 to 12, 2025. Farmers across the country applied desperate measures such as lighting fires around the crops to save them and avoid further losses. Authorities are describing this as one of the most severe agricultural frosts in Turkey’s recent history. Turkey experienced a severe frost event from April 10 to 12, 2025, with temperatures plunging as low as -15°C (5°F) in some areas, resulting in widespread crop damage. The frost impacted 36 out of 81 provinces, causing extensive losses across crops such as apricots, apples, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, grapes, and vegetables. Significant losses were reported in Malatya, Manisa, Isparta, and other agricultural regions. Ibrahim Yumakli, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, described this as one of the most severe agricultural frosts in Turkey’s history, comparing it to the major frost event in 2014. The western city of Manisa, a key grape-producing province, reported that nearly 80% of the vineyards in the region have been damaged due to the cold spell. “This year is already lost,” echoed Güngör Levent, a local vineyard owner. “We’re talking about damage in the billions of liras. If we face another frost like this, production will come to a halt. Next year? God only knows.” The province of Tekirdağ also reported damage as vineyards had already started sprouting, while in central Çorum, many fruit trees also suffered damage. Crops such as apricots, cherries, plums, walnuts, and peaches have also been affected, with widespread losses reported in Malataya province, which produces roughly 85% of the country’s apricots. Apricot, walnut and almond trees were also hit hard by frost and snowfall in the Elazığ region.Ramazan Özcan, head of the Malatya commodity exchange, MTB, said except for wheat and barley, nearly all agricultural products in the province suffered damage.According to Özcan, they generate over USD 500 million annually from apricots, which could disappear this year due to the frost.
Severe dust storms hit Delhi, leaving 2 dead and 5 injured, India - At least two people died while five others were injured in Delhi on Friday, April 11, 2025, as severe dust storms hit the region, downing trees and power lines, reducing visibility, creating dangerous travel conditions on roads, and disrupting hundreds of flights. At least two people died in Delhi on Friday, April 11, while 5 were injured as dust storms swept through the region. The dust storms, coupled with short-lived heavy rains, caused significant damage across Delhi, including the National Capital Region (NCR). A 67-year-old man died in Delhi’s Chander Vihar after a building collapsed at around 18:30 local time (LT), while three were injured as debris rained down on pedestrians underneath. Police said the sixth floor of the building was being constructed when it caved in. In southwest Delhi’s Hari Vihar, a 10-year-old girl died after an under-construction home collapsed at around 18:52 LT on Friday. A passerby, who called the police, said the bricks fell from the top of a partially built structure onto a neighbor’s house, fatally injuring the girl. A 20-year-old woman was injured in the same incident and was taken to a hospital; she is reported to be out of danger. In central Delhi’s Karol Bagh, a 13-year-old boy was also injured in yet another collapse due to the storm. Delhi had experienced a dip in temperatures as dust storms continued for two days straight into Friday. Although this brought some relief from the ongoing heat wave, the reduced visibility created hazardous travel conditions across Delhi. The storm also affected nearby areas like Gurugram where an uniboard collapsed on the Dwarka Expressway, crushing a vehicle and severely injuring the man inside. The injured man was rushed to the Civil Hospital in Gurugram, and was reported out of danger. The incident led to a traffic jam that stretched over 4 km (2.5 miles) on the expressway, forcing Delhi and Gurugram police to work together to clear the route and divert traffic. “The uniboard was later removed with the help of cranes. Traffic was diverted at key points to ease congestion,” said traffic inspector Sandeep Kumar. The storm also caused significant disruptions in air travel, with at least 205 flights delayed and at least 50 flights diverted from their scheduled destination.
Severe sandstorms move across northern China, breaking wind records at 499 stations and prompting rare public advisories - Chinese authorities warned citizens weighing less than 50 kg (110 lb) to stay indoors as a large-scale low-pressure system moving in from Mongolia brought record-breaking winds exceeding 150 km/h (93 mph) to parts of northern China. Over 499 weather stations broke April wind records as the system moved southeast through the weekend, causing widespread damage and placing millions under severe weather alerts. A powerful low-pressure system moving southeast from Mongolia triggered widespread sandstorms and gale-force winds across northern China on Saturday, April 12. The system brought some of the strongest winds in decades to Beijing and parts of northern and eastern China. The sandstorm covered more than 4 million km² (1.5 million mi²), causing 499 weather stations to break April wind gust records on Saturday. It also led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and caused damage to numerous buildings and vehicles across the country. Strong winds began affecting northern China on Friday, April 11, extending southward and into parts of eastern China. The event continued through Sunday, April 13. An orange alert was issued for Beijing on Friday—the first in a decade—due to strong winds forecast across the Hebei region. The sandstorms were expected to reach areas as far south as Hong Kong. Many supermarkets and stores across Beijing saw empty shelves on Friday as residents began stockpiling supplies ahead of the severe weather. Authorities and local media urged millions across the country to stay indoors, advising individuals weighing less than 50 kg (110 lb) to avoid going outside due to the risk of being blown over by winds reaching up to 150 km/h (93 mph). As of 07:00 LT on Saturday, strong winds and dust storms had affected 106 road sections across eight provincial-level regions, including Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Henan. The disruptions involved 82 expressways. Gusts reaching levels 9 to 11 on the Beaufort scale were recorded in parts of Beijing between 14:00 LT and 15:00 LT on Saturday, with localized gusts in mountainous areas hitting level 14, according to Beijing meteorological authorities. Level 14 on the Beaufort scale represents winds of 149–165 km/h (93–103 mph). The Beaufort scale is used to classify winds in relation to the observed conditions on sea and land on a scale of levels 1 to 12, with level 12 being the highest. The extended version of the scale included levels 13 to 17.
Severe dust storm leaves over 2 700 people hospitalized in Iraq - A severe dust storm swept through Iraq on April 14, 2025, hospitalizing over 2 700 people due to suffocation and respiratory issues, primarily in the southern provinces. The storm covered regions in a blood-red and orange haze, disrupted travel, and overwhelmed hospitals in Maysan, Basra, and Muthanna. A total of 2 751 suffocation cases were reported, with the country’s southern provinces the worst hit. Basra alone reported 749 cases, while Muthanna recorded 700, and Maysan 656 cases, straining local medical facilities. Diwaniyah reported 322 cases, Dhi Qar 174, and Najaf 150. Health officials say that these numbers will continue to rise as the dust continues to impact the country. Hospitals in Maysan were particularly overwhelmed, with 12 facilities and emergency units managing a surge in patients. The rising number of patients has overwhelmed local health care centers with limited resources, especially in rural areas. In Najaf, a preliminary report by the health directorate noted a dramatic surge in respiratory cases: Al-Hakeem Hospital received 88 patients, Al-Mishkhab 40, Al-Manathira 60, Al-Sadr 50, Al-Furat 17, and Najaf Educational (German) Hospital 30. Governor Yusuf Ghanawi declared a full alert across healthcare facilities, ensuring the availability of oxygen supplies and deploying civil defense teams to handle emergencies. A similar state of emergency was declared by Governor Murtadha Al-Ibrahimi in Dhi Qar, where hospitals are managing a sharp rise in suffocation cases. The storm caused by powerful westerly winds reduced visibility to less than 1 km (0.6 miles) across the affected regions, with some areas experiencing near zero visibility. The blinding conditions on roads have made travel difficult, with multiple crashes reported of which five in Najaf alone. Amer Al-Jabari, spokesperson for the Iraqi Meteorological Authority, urged citizens to avoid highways, citing dangerously low visibility in the southern, central, and western parts of the country. Police and pedestrians in Najaf wore masks to protect themselves from the airborne dust. Despite the storm’s intensity, air travel remained operational, with the Baghdad and Basra airports remaining fully functional during the storm. The storm also impacted Kuwait, with videos on social media showing brownout conditions in parts of the country. A weather warning was issued across the country, with temperatures being forecast to plunge along with strong winds. The weather supported the impact of the dust storm, reducing visibility to near zero in some areas. Gusts of over 80 km/h (50 mph) were recorded at multiple weather stations across the country, with authorities urging citizens to remain indoors. The Ministry of Education announced that classes will be held remotely on Tuesday across all schools in order to ensure the safety of the students.
Large Saharan dust plume impacts southern and eastern Europe - A significant plume of Saharan dust is currently moving across the Mediterranean Sea and southern Italy into southern and central Europe, with peak concentrations expected on April 16. The event is likely to reduce air quality and may cause “blood rain” in areas affected by rainfall. Dust concentrations are forecast to increase on Wednesday, April 16, with the highest levels expected over Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, as well as parts of Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. The intrusion may lead to reduced air quality and, in combination with precipitation, result in surface dust deposits commonly referred to as “blood rain.” Depending on particle size and concentration, PM10 and PM2.5 levels may exceed local air quality thresholds. Sensitive groups, including individuals with asthma or chronic respiratory conditions, are advised to limit outdoor activities and keep windows and doors shut, as the fine dust particles can cause respiratory irritation. The current dust event is driven by strong south-westerly winds originating over North Africa. The winds are part of a larger synoptic-scale system influencing weather patterns across the Mediterranean and central Europe. Saharan dust intrusions into Europe are not uncommon during spring and late summer. They typically peak between March and May, coinciding with increased surface wind activity over the Sahara and transitional weather patterns in the Mediterranean basin.
Rio Grande Fire near Bosque Farms destroys homes, forces evacuations, New Mexico – (YouTube video) A fast-moving wildfire named the Rio Grande Fire has burned approximately 61 ha (150 acres) near Bosque Farms in Valencia County, New Mexico, with 0% containment as of early April 18, 2025. The fire started just before 16:00 MDT on April 17 at the far west end of Lillie Drive, burning through the Bosque area under Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) jurisdiction. It has since rapidly spread across both sides of the Rio Grande River, driven by dry fuels, including grass, brush, and cottonwood, as well as extreme weather conditions. Three structures have been confirmed destroyed, although initial field estimates reported 5 to 10 structures impacted. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Evacuations were ordered for residents living West of W Bosque Loop between Lillie and Cottonwood Drive, and from Lillie north to Truchas Trail. Residents were advised to evacuate immediately and follow all directives from local authorities. An evacuation center has been established at the Daniel Fernandez Recreation Center, located at 1103 NM-314 in Los Lunas. Those needing assistance with livestock retrieval were instructed to contact the Bosque Farms Fire Department directly. At the time of the latest report, weather conditions were complicating suppression efforts. Temperatures were around 25°C (77°F), relative humidity was 7%, and sustained winds were 48 km/h (30 mph) with gusts reaching up to 82 km/h (51 mph). The conditions are consistent with critical fire weather, increasing the likelihood of rapid fire spread and spot fires. Multiple agencies have mobilized to combat the fire under a unified command structure, including Valencia County Fire Department, Bosque Farms Fire Department, Peralta Fire, Los Lunas Fire and others.
CME impacts Earth sparking widespread aurora, G3 – Strong storm Watch in effect for April 16 -- A coronal mass ejection produced by a filament eruption on April 13 impacted Earth’s magnetic field at 16:37 UTC on April 15, sparking a G2 – Moderate geomagnetic storm. A G3 – Strong geomagnetic storm watch is in effect for April 16 due to the anticipated arrival of additional CMEs. A series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) produced on April 13 have begun impacting Earth, with the initial CME hitting at 16:37 UTC on April 15 and producing G2 – Moderate geomagnetic storming. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has issued a Watch for a G3 – Strong geomagnetic storm on April 16 due to the anticipated arrival of additional CMEs. Solar activity remained at moderate levels in 24 hours to 00:30 UTC today, due to multiple M-class solar flares. Two concurrent flares made precise source identification challenging, with simultaneous activity recorded on both the eastern and western solar limbs. The western limb event, linked to departing active Region 4055, was identified as an M1.3 flare peaking at 18:13 UTC on April 15. A CME observed around 15:00 UTC on April 15, originating from beyond the Sun’s eastern limb, is not expected to impact Earth. SWPC forecasts a reduction in M-class flare probability from 75% to 50% through April 18, as Region 4055 moves beyond Earth’s line of sight. Currently, all visible solar regions exhibit relatively simple magnetic configurations, keeping the chance of X-class (Strong) flares very low, at approximately 5%. The high-speed solar wind stream (HSS) from a negative-polarity coronal hole (CH) in the southern solar hemisphere continued to influence Earth over the past several days. Electron flux levels greater than 2 MeV remained elevated over the past 36 hours, with peak measurements of 2 380 pfu detected by GOES-19 at 16:20 UTC and 5 120 pfu by GOES-18 at 17:50 UTC on April 15. Proton fluxes greater than 10 MeV remained at background levels. SWPC expects continued high electron flux through April 18, reinforced by interactions with an additional northern CH stream expected on April 17. Proton flux is anticipated to remain at background unless significant flare activity occurs from Region 4055, which will remain in a favorable position through April 16. Solar wind conditions intensified following CME arrival at 16:37 UTC on April 15. The interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) reached a peak strength (Bt) of 28.2 nT by 18:20 UTC, with the southward magnetic component (Bz) dropping sharply to -20.3 nT at 18:15 UTC. Solar wind speed increased from pre-impact levels near 400 km/s to approximately 554 km/s. SWPC recorded variability in the phi angle, indicating fluctuating magnetic orientations embedded within the solar wind flow. Solar wind parameters are forecast to remain elevated throughout April 16 due to ongoing CME impacts. Conditions will gradually subside on April 17, though effects from an approaching equatorial negative-polarity CH are expected to maintain elevated solar wind levels.
Trump admin silent as UN deadline passes for reporting GHG emissions - EPA appears to have missed a deadline Tuesday to submit data on U.S. climate emissions to the United Nations. If so, it would mark the first time in history the United States didn’t meet an annual April 15 deadline for all developed countries to provide inventories of their climate-warming pollution. For nearly three decades, the United States has honored its obligation to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, including during the four years of President Donald Trump’s first term. But this year something changed. And it’s just not clear yet what that is. EPA didn’t respond to inquiries from POLITICO’s E&E News about whether the inventory might just be late. But EPA also never fully published the draft inventory — which covers economywide carbon, methane and other emissions from 2023 — despite the outgoing Biden administration completing that work and publishing a Federal Register notice promising it would be available for public view.The agency normally releases the draft in January or February and solicits public comment before finalizing the inventory. Missing the U.N. deadline raises questions about whether the administration might be preparing to exit the broader UNFCCC. Trump already has set wheels in motion for a second Paris Agreement withdrawal, and has asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to make recommendations soon about more global agreements that he views as not serving U.S. interests. Regardless, the U.S. appears to be no longer complying with the UNFCCC. The agency didn’t release the inventory publicly Tuesday and it doesn’t appear on the U.N. body’s website.“We’re rapidly approaching a situation where the operative question is, how could you tell the difference?” said Joe Goffman, who served as EPA air chief in the Biden administration. “How could you tell the difference between taking a formal step to withdraw from the UNFCCC or simply not abide by its terms?” The ratification documents then-President George H.W. Bush submitted to the U.N. in 1992 after the Senate’s vote to approve the treaty stated that the U.S. would comply via EPA’s Clean Air Act authorities, among other tools. The U.S. began reporting emissions to the UN in 1997. Section 114 of the Clean Air Act allows EPA to require companies to report emissions, though up to that point it had been used to require companies to cooperate with EPA investigations or to furnish data to help EPA write rules. In 2008, Congress included language in its annual appropriations bill instructing EPA to use its Clean Air Act authority to collect greenhouse gas emissions annually from a broad set of stationary emissions sources in key sectors like oil and gas, power generation, and landfills. That data feeds into the EPA’s greenhouse gas inventories, which are then submitted to the UNFCCC.
West Virginia bill would allow CO2 storage under state parks - The state House and Senate have passed the legislation, sending it to Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey with limited support from environmentalists. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) may soon sign a bill that would let a state agency lease space for carbon dioxide storage under state parks. S.B. 627 would end a prohibition on the leasing of state-owned pore spaces that lie under lands designated as West Virginia state parks. Access to pore space — or the tiny voids between underground rocks — is a key factor to boosting carbon capture and removal projects because geologic storage offers a home for trapped CO2.Morrisey, who previously served as West Virginia’s attorney general, is expected to sign the legislation, opponents of SB 627 said. The bill that passed both chambers this month was sent to the governor this week, meaning it could become effective in July. With the state Legislature adjourned, the governor has 15 days to act on most bills, according to a state website. The bill headed to Morrisey’s desk after EPA earlier this year granted the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection the ability to issue permits for CO2 injection wells for geologic storage of the climate-warming gas. West Virginia became the fourth state to secure that authority — known as primacy — behind North Dakota, Wyoming and Louisiana.
Senators split on path forward on carbon tariff bill - A top Democratic senator who has long pushed carbon tariffs said that a Republican pollution fee bill is a good starting point, though GOP sponsors say they plan to move ahead with their party-line proposal.Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, said that a foreign pollution fee bill released this week by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was a “good first step” toward his long-stated goal of implementing a carbon tariff.The Republican-led “Foreign Pollution Fee Act,” S. 1325, a version of which Cassidy also pushed last Congress, would slap tariffs on countries that generate high levels of manufacturing pollution for imports such as steel, aluminum and fertilizer. The bill was celebrated by a number of climate and manufacturing groups when it was released Tuesday.Whitehouse, meanwhile, has advocated for more universal carbon tariffs that would punish domestic polluters in addition to foreign importers. He framed Cassidy and Graham’s bill as a first draft in an ongoing negotiation process.
Agriculture Department cancels $3 billion grant program for climate-friendly crops -- The Trump administration canceled a $3.1 billion grant program for climate-friendly crops, the Agriculture Department announced Monday. In a press release, the department said that it was canceling Biden-era Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, which funded 141 projects that sought to advance climate-friendly farming practices. Projects funded under the program supported things like planting cover crops, which prevent soil erosion, and managing soil nutrients to minimize farming’s environmental impacts. The Biden administration estimated that the program would reach more than 60,000 farms and cut more than 60 million metric tons of carbon dioxide — the equivalent of taking 12 million gas-powered cars off the road for a year. However, the Trump administration said that most of the projects “had sky-high administration fees which in many instances provided less than half of the federal funding directly to farmers.” Up Next - Bill Maher changes tune, Trump critic says POTUS 'gracious' after surprising White House dinner It also said that “select projects” could continue if they can show that a “significant” amount of their funds will go to farmers. “The Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative was largely built to advance the green new scam at the benefit of NGOs, not American farmers,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in a written statement.
Federal judge orders immediate thaw of climate, infrastructure funds --President Donald Trump does not have “unfettered power to hamstring in perpetuity” duly passed funding laws, the judge ruled. A federal judge ruled Tuesday that EPA, the Interior and Energy departments and other agencies unlawfully froze funds under Democrats’ climate and infrastructure spending laws, ordering the agencies to immediately resume disbursing the money. The ruling from Judge Mary McElroy of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, who was named to the bench by President Donald Trump in 2019, comes on the eve of an expected decision from another judge in Washington on whether EPA lawfully terminated $20 billion in climate grants. That case and other litigation are part of a complex web of lawsuits over frozen funds and terminated grants playing out in multiple courts. McElroy said she wanted to be “crystal clear” that the president is entitled to enact his agenda. However, “agencies do not have unlimited authority to further a President’s agenda, nor do they have unfettered power to hamstring in perpetuity two statutes passed by Congress during the previous administration.”The lawsuit was brought by six conservation and community groups that received grants under the Inflation Reduction Act that was enacted in 2022 and the bipartisan infrastructure law enacted in 2021. The grant recipients demonstrated that the indefinite freeze of their funds was “neither reasonable nor reasonably explained,” McElroy wrote, adding that the agencies did not show “that they considered the consequences of their broad, indefinite freezes: projects halted, staff laid off, goodwill tarnished.” And McElroy rejected the administration’s claim of “broad powers” to pause spending. Agencies have “narrower powers” to pause or terminate individual grants but not “cases of vast economic and political significance—like this one,” she wrote, citing the Supreme Court’s major questions doctrine, which looks skeptically at broad claims of executive power. Among the groups that brought the suit were the Childhood Lead Action Project, which got $500,000 from EPA to combat childhood lead poisoning in Rhode Island; Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corp., which got $750,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services for energy efficiency upgrades to housing for the elderly; and the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, which got $1 million from the Forest Service for urban forestry work.But McElroy applied her order to all IRA and IIJA grants nationwide, not just those of the groups that brought this lawsuit.“It would be anathema to reasonable jurisprudence that only the named Nonprofits should be protected from the irreparable harms of the likely unlawful agency actions,” she wrote.Notably, McElroy also dismissed the Trump administration’s arguments that she lacks jurisdiction to issue this order because these are contract disputes that by law would have to be heard by another court. Similar arguments have been raised by EPA in litigation over its canceled climate grants.But McElroy wrote that the nonprofits’ rights don’t stem from any contract with the government — they come from the laws passed by Congress. The groups are seeking to halt the government’s funding freeze, not get “money damages” for past harm done, she said.McElroy rejected the Trump administration’s argument that the Supreme Court’s recent decision to allow the termination of Education Department grants to go forward should bind her hands. A “single three-page per curiam order granting a stay” does not overrule a long line of precedent that gives her jurisdiction, McElroy wrote.
EPA appeals judge’s ruling requiring it to unfreeze climate dollars - EPA appealed Wednesday a federal judge’s order that prevents the agency from blocking $20 billion in climate grants, escalating a legal squabble over the frozen Biden-era money.The appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit came hours after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction, ordering the agency to stop “unlawfully suspending or terminating” the grant awards.Judge Tanya Chutkan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said she would issue an opinion detailing her reasoning for the injunction, but it was not immediately available.The fight over the $20 billion has become one of the most high-profile disputes in President Donald Trump’s attempt to throttle former President Joe Biden’s climate and energy agenda. The money has been sitting for months in accounts at Citibank, where EPA’s Biden-era leaders had placed it for the use of eight affordable housing and community-lending nonprofits.EPA has argued — without evidence — that the program has been marked by waste and cronyism.In her order late Tuesday, Chutkan, an Obama appointee, ordered EPA to file a status report within 24 hours, confirming its compliance with the preliminary injunction.
EPA Deputy Administrator McIntosh says regulatory overhaul coming -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under Administrator Andrew Macintosh, is planning a significant regulatory overhaul to streamline environmental policies and boost economic growth, as outlined in an April 15, 2025, article from Chemical Processing. Macintosh aims to revise or eliminate numerous regulations, focusing on reducing compliance costs for industries like chemical manufacturing while maintaining environmental protections. Key initiatives include revising the Clean Air Act’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards, updating the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to expedite chemical approvals, and easing Clean Water Act permitting processes. The EPA also plans to leverage advanced technologies, such as AI, to enhance regulatory efficiency and transparency. Industry stakeholders have mixed reactions, with some welcoming the potential for innovation and others expressing concerns about weakened environmental safeguards. The overhaul is expected to face legal challenges and requires public comment periods, potentially delaying implementation.
USDA pulls the plug on climate-smart farming grants - The Agriculture Department said Monday it’s canceling the Biden administration’s $3.1 billion program to promote farm products and timber grown through climate-smart practices. Calling the climate-smart agriculture grants a “slush fund,” the USDA said it would still reimburse recipients for expenses prior to April 13, and redesign what’s left of the program to target payments more specifically to farmers, rather than to corporate or nonprofit partners. “The Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative was largely built to advance the green new scam at the benefit of NGOs, not American farmers,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a news release. “The concerns of farmers took a backseat during the Biden Administration.” Former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack created the program in 2022, drawing on funds from the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corp. Competitive grants went to farm organizations and nonprofit groups as well as universities and corporations, which in turn agreed to enroll and pay farmers for practices that cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. As part of the projects, goods including meat, vegetables, livestock feed and timber — among others — would be marketed as “climate-smart,” a label Vilsack said would appeal to consumers in the U.S. and abroad as demand for such products grows. From the start, the program faced criticism that it was tilted toward “big agriculture” interests and corporate sponsors like Archer Daniels Midland. But it generated more applications than the USDA could award. The department said its ongoing review of the program revealed that the majority of the projects had ”sky-high administration fees,” which in many instances provided less than half of the federal funding directly to farmers. In a news release, the USDA said it would rename the program to erase any reference to climate change, calling it the “Advancing Markets for Producers Program,” and ensure that at least 65 percent of federal funds go to producers. In addition, grant recipients must have made payments to at least one producer as of the end of last year for the projects to continue, the USDA said. No new funding will be made available for the projects, the department said.
States shrug at Trump’s order targeting their climate laws - State officials are still scratching their heads over how — or whether — to respond to the executive order President Donald Trump signed last week targeting state climate laws. Trump’s order, titled “Protecting American Energy from State Overreach,” directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to “stop the enforcement” of state climate laws, from cap-and-trade systems to environmental justice programs to state permitting requirements — singling out California, New York and Vermont.But little has changed since Trump signed the order, officials say. That’s left state leaders in the uneasy position of defending their states’ policies while wondering what might provoke the administration into targeting them.The order is so vaguely written that many questions remain about how it could be enforced, or even what the Trump administration might ultimately target, Michael O’Grady, the deputy chief counsel for Vermont’s Office of Legislative Counsel, told lawmakers Tuesday.
Clean energy transition will persist under Trump, analyses say - America’s energy transition will slow — but won’t stop entirely — if President Donald Trump is successful in repealing environmental regulations and slashing green subsidies, according to a pair of analyses released Tuesday. The annual energy outlooks from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and BloombergNEF offer a window to the country’s potential energy future after Trump. Both project rising renewable electricity generation, even in scenarios where Trump’s deregulatory agenda is successful. And both forecast rising electricity demand through 2050, though the EIA outlook notably finds that overall U.S. energy demand will fall as homes and vehicles use less fossil fuel. Coal generation, oil production and gasoline consumption are predicted to fare better in scenarios where Trump succeeds in rolling back regulations, under EIA’s projections. The agency — an independently operating data crunch branch of the Department of Energy — also forecasts big spikes in electricity prices over the next few decades. Advertisement DOE blasted its own agency’s findings Tuesday. “Today’s report from EIA reflects the disastrous path for American energy production under the Biden administration — a path that was soundly rejected by the American people last November,” DOE spokesperson Andrea Woods said in a statement. “By unleashing energy that is affordable, reliable, and secure, this administration is ensuring America’s future is marked by energy growth and abundance — not scarcity.” The EIA outlook is the first since 2023. The agency paused the report last year to update its models. Total U.S. electricity demand is expected to rise by roughly 50 percent by 2050 in EIA’s reference case. That forecast fits with broad expectations for big jumps in electricity demand as artificial intelligence and data center projects proliferate. It also follows increased electrification in the wake of the Inflation Reduction Act, the 2022 climate law that provided billions of dollars in tax credits and grants for new clean energy systems. “It’s pretty clear that electricity demand is increasing and more end use demands are being met with electricity. Much of that was incentivized with the Inflation Reduction Act,” Joseph DeCarolis, the EIA administrator under former President Joe Biden, told POLITICO’s E&E News in an interview. Republican congressional leaders are aiming to repeal parts of the IRA as part of an upcoming budget package. But Matthias Kimmel, co-author of the BNEF report, said policymakers need to invest even more in clean energy to tackle climate change and “capitalize on emerging opportunities surrounding energy supply and security.” “Major investment and rapid deployment of clean energy technologies across markets is essential to materializing real change,” said Kimmel, head of energy economics at BNEF. The research firm covers the energy transition and is part of the wider media empire owned by Michael Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor and an outspoken climate hawk. Rising electricity demand associated with data centers and artificial intelligence figures prominently in both EIA and BNEF outlooks. EIA projects that commercial electricity sales will grow by roughly 20 percent through 2035 as a result of data center growth. BNEF sees a similar trend. Data centers are expected to account for 8.6 percent of U.S. electricity demand in 2035, up from 3.5 percent last year, the consulting firm said. The EIA outlook predicts more modest growth in electricity demand than other recent analyses. In December, a report from Grid Strategies, a prominent consultancy, showed electricity demand could increase 3 percent annually in the second half of this decade. Wood Mackenzie also predicted in October that electricity demand in the U.S. will increase up to 15 percent by 2029. EIA is projecting an 8 percent rise by 2030. The agency on Tuesday published several sets of data, including its reference case, which assumes the implementation of Biden administration emissions regulations on power plants and the auto sector. It also published forecasts assuming no power plant and auto sector regulations, which are respectively referred to as the alternative electricity and alternative transportation projections. EIA predicts that electricity prices will spike in both the reference and alternative electricity cases to more than 20 cents per kilowatt-hour by 2050. In 2024, the average price of U.S. electricity is 13 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to EIA. In all circumstances, EIA said coal and natural gas consumption will fall in the U.S. over the next several decades. But the pace of that decline could depend in part on policy decisions. Biden’s power plant rules require coal facilities to install carbon capture and sequestration by 2032. The EIA’s reference case shows coal generation falling 53 percent in 2032 as a result and declining 98 percent in 2050. But in the alternative electricity scenario, where the EPA rules are scrapped, coal generation would fall 48 percent in 2032 and 70 percent by 2050. EIA foresees a similar story with oil. EPA’s tighter vehicle emission standards under Biden lead to a 44 percent drop in gasoline consumption by 2050, EIA’s projections show. If those standards are repealed, gasoline consumption would still fall 17 percent by midcentury. Domestic oil production drops 15 percent by 2050 in the reference case but would fall 11 percent in a scenario where the vehicle emissions standards are repealed. The reference case predicts natural gas consumption will decrease from roughly 31 quadrillion British thermal units (btu) in 2024 to 27.4 quadrillion btu in 2050. The alternative electricity case predicts gas consumption will drop even more to 26.8 quadrillion btu. EIA also forecasts a cut in total energy use in the U.S. by 2050 — from nearly 94 quadrillion btu in 2024 to 88 quadrillion btu in the reference case and 89 quadrillion btu in the alternative electricity scenario with no power plant regulations
DOGE Hands US DOE The Budget Axe To Slash $10B in Clean Projects - If Big Oil was starting to feel good about its government-sponsored climate-era glow-up, they may be in for a rude awakening, with the U.S. Energy Department reportedly preparing to pull the plug on nearly $10 billion in clean-energy funding, according to new memos seen by the Wall Street Journal. The DOE’s move could put everything from hydrogen hubs to carbon capture collaborations in the crosshairs—yes, even those buzzy projects with ExxonMobil and Occidental. According to internal memos making the rounds, the cuts could gut two key DOE offices tasked with steering the country’s most ambitious decarbonization efforts. That includes government contracts already inked or in the pipeline, which means a whole lot of projects might suddenly find themselves without a dance partner—or a checkbook. The irony is rich. For over a year, energy giants like Exxon, Chevron, and Occidental have begged Washington for clarity and consistency in clean energy policy. “Just give us the rules and we’ll play,” they said. So D.C. gave them money instead. Now? Cue the nervous glances as the rules—and the funding—start evaporating. It’s not just the oil titans who could take a hit. Solar players like First Solar, SunPower, and Shoals Technologies are all on the list of possible collateral damage. So are energy storage hopefuls, hydrogen dreamers, and the handful of carbon-capture firms still convincing investors that this time it’s for real. If finalized, the cuts would signal a sharp pivot in how the federal government views its role in energy innovation. The gaping divide between the two political parties in the United States is set to dish out a dose of whiplash. One minute, the government is dishing out IRA billions, and the next minute, a new administration is ghosting clean-tech suitors mid-date. For companies banking on Uncle Sam’s backing to meet emissions targets—or just stay afloat—this is a sudden reality check. For those who feel like the green gold rush is still on in the United States, it may be wise for companies to at least bring their own wallet.
Burgum halts work on NY offshore wind project - Interior Secretary Doug Burgum halted construction of a major offshore wind farm off New York on Wednesday, in a marked escalation of President Donald Trump’s fight against offshore wind. Burgum said in a post on X that he had directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, a division of the Interior Department, to stop work on Empire Wind. He wrote that the Biden administration had permitted the 810-megawatt project “without sufficient analysis.” “On day one, @POTUS called for comprehensive reviews of federal wind projects and wind leasing, and at Interior, we are doing our part to make sure these instructions are followed,” he wrote. Trump has targeted offshore wind since returning to the White House, but Wednesday’s announcement is by far the most significant action his administration has taken to stop the industry. The president’s previous actions, such as halting new leases and permits in a Day 1 executive order,, largely affected projects that were in the very early phases of development and already faced an uncertain future due to economic pressures. But in seeking to stop Empire Wind, the Trump administration is taking the unusual step of attempting to reverse an already permitted project that is actively moving forward. It sets the stage for a massive battle with New York state, which has made offshore wind a central part of its plan to slash climate pollution and meet growing energy demand. Empire Wind is unique in that it plans to plug directly into New York City’s famously congested power gird, delivering carbon-free electrons directly to America’s most populous city. Burgum’s announcement produced a fiery rebuke from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), who accused the Trump administration of “federal overreach.” “I will fight this every step of the way to protect union jobs, affordable energy and New York’s economic future,” Hochul said in a statement. Equinor, the Norwegian oil giant building Empire Wind, made the decision to go forward with the project last year after a series of setbacks. The project’s costs ballooned in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which exacerbated existing supply chain constraints and forced Equinor to renegotiate its power contract with New York state. Equinor did not immediately respond to a request to comment.
Report: $8B in clean energy investments canceled in first quarter - Nearly $8 billion in private sector clean energy investments were canceled, closed or downsized in the first three months of the year, according to clean energy business group E2. The pullback is more than three times the total investments canceled over the previous 30 months, according to E2, and comes as investors struggle under economic and market uncertainty and rising concern over the potential elimination of tax credits at the center of Democrats’ climate law. In the first quarter of the year, 16 new large-scale factories and other projects were shuttered or shrunk, according to E2, which has tracked clean energy investments made since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. Those cuts are impacting Republican-held districts and states. Among those investments affected were Bosch’s suspension of a $200 million hydrogen fuel cell factory in South Carolina, T1 Energy’s cancellation of a $2.6 billion battery factory in Georgia and KORE Power’s cancellation of a $1.2 billion battery plant in Arizona.
Mass Exodus at U.S. EIA Casts Doubt on Future Energy Reports --It seems our favorite government agency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), was populated by a lot of swamp creatures. Multiple sources are whispering to Reuters that 100 or more of the agency’s 350 employees (somewhere between 25% and 40%) either already have or soon will leave their jobs at the agency. They have opted to accept President Trump’s offer to government workers to leave with generous benefits now or risk being fired later. Reuters, which is typically an unbiased news source (one of the few), is throwing shade that important reports produced by EIA will no longer be produced, given the lack of manpower.
PJM gets a political message to speed up renewable projects - Political leaders in Democratic-led states in the East are turning up pressure to get more new carbon-free renewable energy projects underway in the face of President Donald Trump’s campaign to bring back coal power. Officials from Maryland and New Jersey — taking a page from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) playbook — said Tuesday their states would have to consider leaving PJM Interconnection, their region’s electric grid operator, if PJM can’t speed up approvals on its huge backlog of stalled solar and wind projects. Earlier this year, Shapiro used a threat to leave the grid to get PJM to accept a price cap to limit maximum payments to generators that pledge to provide power from 2026 to 2028.The Maryland and New Jersey officials spoke Tuesday during the rollout of a study from the clean advocacy group Evergreen Action on the need to accelerate wind, solar and energy storage projects to combat climate change and keep power shortages from inflating consumers’ utility bills.
Electric trucks face a rough road with Trump - A sense of gloom pervades the electric truck industry these days. Regulations that would smooth the path to adoption are gone or under threat. Funding for crucial projects has been yanked. Startups are going bankrupt. Tariffs are hitting. And the vehicles are as expensive and hard to charge as ever. “When you have a national government that is actively working against the industry, like heavy-duty electric trucking, it is always going to make it difficult,” said Rustam Kocher, an industry veteran who worked at auto manufacturer Daimler and with an Oregon power company to charge electric trucks. President Donald Trump delights in dissing electric trucks. On the campaign trail, he described their shortcomings in detail, depicting them as Biden-mobiles that were detached from commercial reality. “Fifty years ago, a truck was better than the best electric truck today,” Trump said at a New Mexico rally in October. His administration has asked Congress to rescind the 2022 climate law’s financial incentives for factories and tax credits for truck buyers, frozen some of that grant money unilaterally and promised to undo regulations that promote electric trucks. Trump has also implemented tariffs that could make electric trucks more expensive. Still, analysts say electric trucks are likely to continue an uphill grind toward acceptance — just in a slower gear. Truck manufacturing is an international business, curbing the impacts of U.S. policy on the industry, and truck-makers have incentives to move away from diesel power beyond tax credits and pollution limits. While diesel trucks comprise the overwhelming majority of today’s truck fleet and will be on the road for the foreseeable future, cleaner-running trucks will make up an increasing percentage of sales, said Andrej Divis, an analyst at S&P Global Mobility. “If you’re looking 20 years down the road, I think we would say the energy transition is still happening,” he said. And in a perverse twist, the most anticipated new electric model — the one that some think might finally turn the trucking industry toward acceptance — is the Tesla Semi, the brainchild of none other than Trump’s right-hand man, Elon Musk.
A more competitive, more transparent, less subsidized energy market is needed -Intel, Amazon, and Google have all recently invested billions of dollars in central Ohio’s 'Silicon Heartland.' Big and small technology companies are adding new microchip manufacturing plants, high-speed digital data storage centers, and artificial intelligence computing servers to Ohio’s traditional industrial and advanced manufacturing sector, all of which significantly increase demand for energy, especially reliable electricity. When energy supply fails to keep pace with energy demand, energy prices rise. That fact is taught in Economics 101. Ohio does not produce enough of its own electricity to meet its industrial and residential demand, requiring it to import electricity from other states. Not surprisingly, Ohio now pays record prices for electricity on the open regional energy market. For Ohio’s energy supply to better meet the state’s affordable energy needs, officials should pursue energy policies that promote market competition, avoid tax-subsidized favoritism, reduce regulatory obstacles for expanding Ohio’s energy infrastructure and enhance transparency. Ohio’s cold winters, cloudy days, and inconsistent wind patterns prevent renewable solar and wind energy sources from contributing much to the state’s power grid. Since the shale boom, natural gas 'combined cycle' power plants have become the state’s dominant resource for electricity production, meaning we rely heavily on gas storage and pipeline infrastructure to heat our homes, fuel our factories, and keep the lights on. To meet rising demand, Ohio should build more pipelines, more fuel storage capacity, more generators, and more transmission lines—and it should do so through competitive bids on open markets, not government favors or taxpayer subsidies. As the energy infrastructure expands, so should the competition among the market players to keep prices low and service reliable. The infamous House Bill 6 debacle that saw an energy company pay millions of dollars to state politicians and regulators in exchange for public subsidies taught Ohio an embarrassing lesson. To avoid repeating that painful mistake, policymakers must resist the temptation to subsidize politically preferred energy sources or providers. Such subsidies encourage corruption, manipulate markets, and distort corporate decision-making — all to the consumer’s detriment. Instead of taxpayer-funded corporate handouts, policymakers should promote market competition and reduce regulatory red-tape that makes increasing energy supply more difficult and expensive. Negotiations between electricity suppliers and industrial-scale users for new infrastructure should be open and transparent. Private investors should bear the risk of such energy-sector investments, not ratepayers. Unlike government subsidies, competitive bids and contracts, transparent pricing options, and multi-sector risk-sharing agreements will improve cost-savings, enhance reliable service, and show where more energy infrastructure is truly needed. Government regulations at the federal, state, and local levels also make it more difficult and more expensive to improve energy infrastructure. Power plant construction permits, for example, are notoriously slow. Delaying new energy infrastructure construction restricts the supply of affordable electricity just as new demand for it rises. To help balance energy supply and demand, state and local policymakers should work with regulators to revise relevant rules and make permitting more efficient across the state. Ohio needs a more competitive, more transparent, and less subsidized energy market. The rapidly evolving 21st century economy runs on electricity and demand for reliable power shows no signs of abating. Without affordable electricity, Ohio risks losing economic market share to states with more energy and lower energy prices. That’s an avoidable risk not worth taking.
Puerto Rico suffers another major power outage - The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico is back in the dark for the second time in recent months after several power plants shut down early Wednesday afternoon. Luma Energy, which runs the island’s grid, pointed to an “event” at 12:40 p.m. that is affecting service to more than 3 million residents islandwide. The company said it was in contact with generators to reestablish the system, according to a post on X. The last general power outage in Puerto Rico happened on New Year’s Eve. Back then, a malfunctioning cable sparked the cascading shutdown of several plants. It took days for some residents to get their power back. Luma and Genera PR, a separate company that runs several major government-owned generating stations, has not said what caused Wednesday’s problems.
US regulators deny rehearing on co-located Amazon data center energy pact --U.S. energy regulators at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) denied a rehearing request to reconsider a decision blocking an Amazon data center in Pennsylvania from increasing its power usage, which is directly connected to Talen Energy’s Susquehanna nuclear power plant, according to government filings. This decision stems from concerns that the co-located data center, which diverts electricity from the broader grid, could impact power reliability and raise costs for the public. The arrangement, part of Big Tech’s push to secure massive electricity for AI data centers, aims to bypass grid connection delays, boosting the tech industry’s AI expansion and shares of independent power companies like Talen. FERC had previously rejected Talen’s request to supply beyond 300 megawatts, despite the facility’s potential to use nearly 1,000 megawatts. Talen, unsurprised by FERC’s ruling, plans to appeal in the Fifth Circuit, while FERC explores broader co-location regulations
Surging Interest in Building Data Centers in PA; 6 Announced So Far -- Marcellus Drilling News - In early April, MDN brought you the exciting news that THE largest gas-fired power plant in the country, along with a MASSIVE data center complex, will be built at a former coal-fired power plant site in Indiana County, PA (seeLargest Gas-Fired Power Plant in the U.S. Coming in Western Pa.). The site will be transformed into a more than 3,200-acre natural gas-powered data center campus, complete with a 4.5 gigawatt Marcellus-fired power plant. Not long after, we told you about another announced data center and gas-fired power plant, this one coming to Washington County, PA (see ‘Another Data Center Announced for SWPA; Range to Provide NatGas’). Liberty Energy Inc., Imperial Land Corporation, and Range Resources announced a strategic alliance to support the development of a state-of-the-art gas-fired power plant and data center within the Fort Cherry Development District in Robinson Township. However, those aren’t the only two announced data center projects in the Keystone State.
Blue Hydrogen Facilities Could Move Needle on NatGas Demand This Yr -Marcellus Drilling News --An interesting report from BTU Analytics connects many of the dots that (for us) have been missing with respect to hydrogen production from natural gas that captures carbon dioxide in the process—called “blue hydrogen.” As you know, we’ve been skeptical of the big push to produce hydrogen as a magic replacement for other forms of energy, particularly natural gas. Environmentalists pay lip service to loving hydrogen because it burns “clean” with no CO2 emissions. Why not just burn natural gas (and capture the CO2) instead of going through the time and expense of converting natural gas into hydrogen? Please, don’t ask such common-sense questions. It marks you as a MAGA extremist.
Trump allows dozens of coal plants to duck pollution limits - The nation’s leading power producers will get a two-year reprieve from deeper cuts to mercury and other toxic air pollutants.Dozens of coal plants — including some run by the nation’s leading power producers — will be allowed to sidestep updated limits on toxic pollutants after President Donald Trump’s unprecedented decision to grant a compliance extension.A roster posted on EPA’s website lists 47 power producers and almost 70 plants. They will get a two-year reprieve from regulations updated last spring to further cut the power sector’s emissions of mercury, a brain-damaging neurotoxin, and other hazardous air pollutants.The Trump administration is meanwhile seeking to revisit — and possibly repeal — the updated limits.The list includes the Colstrip Generating Plant, a Montana facility owned in part by NorthWestern Energy and Talen that ranks among the nation’s top polluting electricity providers. Others include facilities run by Southern Co., Entergy and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Also winning exemptions are plants operated by the East Kentucky Power Cooperative, North Dakota-based Basin Electric and other electric co-ops.
Australia’s coalmine methane mirage: The urgent need for accurate emissions reporting | IEEFA -The first emissions reporting under the reformed Safeguard Mechanism from Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator (CER) reveal a contradictory trend in the coalmining sector. On the surface, the coalmine sector’s Scope 1 (direct) emissions in the CER’s Safeguard Mechanism reporting for FY2023-24 were unchanged from the prior year at 31.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). Volume-led increases in open-cut mines were offset by lower production volumes from emissions-intensive underground coalmines. Underground coalmine production across Queensland and NSW fell by 10.6% in FY2023-24, causing an 8.5% decline in underground coalmine Scope 1 emissions. Overall coal production grew in 2024 yet coalmine emissions were static, in line with a long-term trend highlighted in a recent report by Ember. It found that while coal production has tripled since the 1990s, emissions reported by the industry have flatlined.This counterintuitive result stems from shifts in production methods towards open-cut operations and the chosen method of reporting emissions. The governing NGER regulations aim to resolve this, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the industry’s carbon liabilities and net-zero ambitions.Major miners including BHP, Glencore, Whitehaven and Yancoal have all reported decreasing emissions intensities from their open-cut operations, creating an impression of environmental progress despite increased production (Figure 1).This apparent success story masks a critical issue – significant uncertainty in how fugitive methane emissions from open-cut mines are reported. Unlike in underground coalmines, gas emissions are not directly measured from open-cut coal mines. Instead, the gas in the ground around the coalmining footprint is estimated as a proxy for what will be released when the coal is mined.The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) recently moved to phase out Method 1 reporting for large miners from FY2026-27, following recommendations from the Climate Change Authority. (Method 1 has been the default method of estimating coalmine emissions based on state average, benchmark levels.) The review also recommended, “as a matter of urgency, review Method 2 with respect to sampling requirements and standards”. It found the sampling requirements misrepresented real mine emissions. The major coalminers in Australia – BHP, Glencore and Whitehaven – have confirmed they have switched to Method 2 reporting for all open-cut facilities, except Whitehaven’s Blackwater mine in Queensland. (Method 2 relies on self-assessed gas sampling and analysis.)All open-cut mines in NSW have moved to Method 2, and some have dramatically reduced their reported emissions by doing so. In Queensland, about half of its open-cut coalmines have moved to Method 2, with a further 17 required to do so in coming years. (Method 3 has higher levels of assurance but is not used.)Under Method 2, the reported methane emissions intensity rates for large mines across NSW have fallen dramatically (Figure 2).
Arlington Avenue sinkhole repair effort causes water break, dispute -- The effort to fix problems caused by the Arlington Avenue sinkhole has only caused more issues, for at least one neighbor. Melissa Stevens said she woke up on Sunday morning to find her water was not on, apparently the line was damaged by stone used to fill the large sinkhole in front of her house. “They had me run a hose from my neighbor’s to my house for almost two days,” Stevens said. City of Toledo crews were able to restore water access for Stevens and her family Monday afternoon. “They start digging out all that debris and stuff just so they can fix our water line,” said Morgan Stevens, Melissa’s daughter, describing the work that was done. She watched as water sprayed from the line and crews added what looked like a new metal pipe. The stone that used to fill the sinkhole was piled up to one side of the pit by Toledo crews. But a city spokesperson said the damage was not the city’s fault. “The water service disruption is from Columbia adding stone to the sinkhole to support their gas line,” wrote Tori Lane, a public information coordinator, in an email to 13 Action News. “Columbia damaged the resident’s water service line. Water service has been temporarily restored and we are working on repairing it as soon as possible.” According to a newsletter published by the City of Toledo, City of Toledo crews added gravel to the sinkhole after it collapsed on April 3. A spokesperson confirmed with 13 Action News on Monday that city crews did add stone to the sinkhole, around April 3, but said Columbia Gas added more stone over the weekend. 13 Action News reached out to Columbia Gas and a spokesperson said that the company added gravel on April 3 to support the line. On April 3, Columbia Gas of Ohio was notified of a situation on Arlington Avenue in Toledo where a sinkhole exposed a section of one of our natural gas main lines. To maintain the safety and integrity of our system and prevent gas service disruption to our customers, Columbia used gravel to support and stabilize the exposed gas line. The City of Toledo’s water main was functional upon completion of this work. Columbia continues to monitor the gas line to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of gas service to our customers and maintain the security of our system. Columbia’s remediation work is a temporary fix until the sinkhole is resolved. We will work with the City of Toledo when they repair the sinkhole to ensure our line remains safe, stable and unaffected."
OH Supreme Court Case Allows Surface Owners to Keep Mineral Rights -- Marcellus Drilling News -- Yesterday, the Ohio Supreme Court issued a ruling dismissing a case that leaves in place a ruling from the Seventh District Court of Appeals. The case, Darrell Crozier et al. v. Pipe Creek Conservancy LLC et al., involves a decision on who owns the oil and gas rights underlying a property in rural Belmont County. The case revolves around the Ohio Marketable Title Act (MTA), something we’ve written about multiple times (see our MTA stories here). The issue of who owns the mineral rights is vitally important for surface owners, rights owners, and drillers. The MTA provides a way for surface owners to reclaim subsurface rights that had been severed under certain conditions. That’s what this case was about.
Court Dismisses Challenge to Mineral Rights Ownership -The Supreme Court of Ohio today dismissed a dispute over oil and gas rights underlying property in rural Belmont County, letting a lower court ruling stand.The Supreme Court ruled it had improvidently accepted Darrell Crozier et al. v. Pipe Creek Conservancy LLC et al., a case it heard in February. The Court majority issued an entry without an opinion, keeping in place the ruling of the Seventh District Court of Appeals.Justice Patrick F. Fischer wrote a concurring opinion, stating the Court correctly dismissed the case after determining the family who brought the challenge waivedtheir right to argue an error they claimed the Seventh District made. Justice Fischer wrote the family actually changed their argument on the issue the Supreme Court agreed to hear only after losing the case in the Seventh District.Justices Jennifer Brunner, Joseph T. Deters, and Daniel R. Hawkins joined the entry dismissing the case.Justices R. Patrick DeWine and Megan E. Shanahan joined Justice Fischer’s opinion. Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy dissented without a written opinion.
Austin Master Services Frack Waste Cleanup in OH Almost Complete -- Marcellus Drilling News --One of the significant stories of 2024 in the Ohio Utica was about Austin Master Services (AMS), a radiological waste management solutions company in Martins Ferry (Belmont County), Ohio, that handles fracking waste (trucks it for disposal). AMS ran into trouble when it ran out of money. The Martins Ferry facility, where waste is temporarily stored, went from a permitted maximum of 600 tons of stored waste to over 10,000 tons, violating its permit. The Ohio Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit against the company in March 2024 to force compliance and to force the cleanup of the facility. More than a year later, we are finally near the end of the cleanup process.
Indiana Michigan Power seeks approval to acquire natural gas plant in Ohio - Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is seeking approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to acquire the Oregon Clean Energy Center, a natural gas plant located in Oregon, Ohio. I&M’s filing explains the need to acquire the facility, which generates about 870 megawatts (MW) of power, as well as future operating plans. In its review process, the IURC will be gauging whether the proposed plant acquisition is in the public interest and is just and reasonable. This proposed acquisition is one component of I&M’s Future Ready plan, which details the resources needed to provide I&M customers with reliable and affordable energy. “I&M has established the need for additional electric generation, and we believe the Oregon Clean Energy Center is an important opportunity to further diversify our current generation portfolio and position I&M for future growth,” Steve Baker, I&M president and chief operating officer, said. “It is our responsibility to ensure that our current and future customers have reliable and affordable power.” Power demand in its service territory is expected to more than double the Indiana peak from approximately 2,800 MW in 2024 to more than 7,000 MW in the 2030 timeframe. The rapid growth in demand provides an opportunity for I&M to reshape the way it serves customers. The Oregon facility, if approved, will provide a stable source of power to meet the 24 hours per day x 7 days per week operational requirements of existing customers as well as new customers. I&M’s current generation portfolio includes solar, wind, nuclear, coal and hydroelectric units. The company’s vision for the future is to implement an “all of the above” approach. I&M, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, anticipates a decision from the IURC on the filing in early 2026
Duke Energy Files to Build 2 Gas-Fired Power Plants in Indiana - Marcellus Drilling News -Cayuga Station, owned by Duke Energy, is a three-unit coal-fired power plant built between 1970 and 1993 in Vermillion County, Indiana. The existing plant produces as much as 1,040 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Duke recently filed a request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) for permission to build two new gas-fired plants at the Cayuga site to replace the coal-fired units. The combined output of the new gas-fired plants will be 1,510 MW. The plan is to build and commission the gas-fired plants first and then shut down the coal-fired plants.
36 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Apr 7 – 13 -- Marcellus Drilling News --Last week was an interesting week for new permits issued to drill new shale wells in the Marcellus/Utica. For the week of Apr 7 – 13, the number of permits issued soared, up 15 from the previous week. Last week, 36 new permits were issued. The surprising thing is just how few of those new permits were issued in the Keystone State (PA). Just five new permits went to PA. CNX Resources had four of PA’s new permits, all for the same well pad in Westmoreland County. The other permit went to EQT in Fayette County - BELMONT COUNTY | CNX RESOURCES | COLUMBIANA COUNTY | ENCINO ENERGY | EQT CORP | FAYETTE COUNTY | GUERNSEY COUNTY | GULFPORT ENERGY | HARRISON COUNTY | HG ENERGY | HILCORP ENERGY | INR/INFINITY NATURAL RESOURCES | MARSHALL COUNTY |MONONGALIA COUNTY | MONROE COUNTY | SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY | TUSCARAWAS COUNTY | WESTMORELAND COUNTY | WETZEL COUNTY
FERC approves storage expansion at Mississippi Hub -- Enstor Gas has received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for its Mississippi Hub Expansion Project, allowing a significant increase in the natural gas storage capacity at its underground facility in Simpson County, Mississippi, according to a Business Wire article. The project will add three storage caverns, each with a 10 billion cubic feet (Bcf) capacity, tripling the facility’s total capacity to 56.3 Bcf. The expansion, set to be in-service by 2028, has secured a long-term contract for its first cavern with a Kinder Morgan subsidiary, enhancing reliability for Gulf Coast and Southeast markets. The facility connects to major pipelines, including Southern Natural Gas and Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line. Enstor’s CEO, Paul Bieniawski, emphasized the project’s role in meeting growing U.S. LNG export and gas-fired power generation demands, strengthening energy security.
Calcasieu Pass LNG Open for Business After Shipping 400+ Cargoes - Marcellus Drilling News -After liquefying and exporting over 400 cargoes of LNG from March 1, 2022, through this month, Venture Global says its Calcasieu Pass (CP) LNG export facility in Louisiana is now officially open for business—three years after it began shipping LNG. Venture Global claimed the CP facility was not commercially ready until now. Venture Global has been selling cargo after cargo of LNG on the open “spot” market, making two, three, or four times the money it could make by selling the cargoes to its legally contracted customers at a predetermined price. At last count, Venture Global has made over $20 billion by selling cargoes on the open spot market.
ET Asks FERC to Extend Lake Charles LNG Construction Extra 3 Years - Marcellus Drilling News - Energy Transfer’s (ET) Lake Charles LNG project is in the news again. Last week we told you that ET had landed a new partner to help pay for the project, MidOcean Energy, which will cover 30% of the cost of building the plant (see MidOcean Partners with Energy Transfer on Lake Charles LNG Exports). ET has just filed a request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to add an extra three years to the permit to get the facility built and online.
Lake Charles LNG Seeking Another FERC Extension Needed to Reach FID --Energy Transfer LP’s (ET) Lake Charles LNG project in Louisiana has again asked FERC for more time to finish building the export terminal and to place it into service. “Without such an extension, the project likely would not be able” to reach a final investment decision (FID), the company said in its filing, noting that it’s also a precondition for sanctioning the facility. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has granted previous extensions, including one in 2022 that gave the company until 2028 to finish the project. The ET affiliate is now asking for an extension until Dec. 31, 2031.
LNG Export Demand Prompts Eagle Ford Natural Gas Growth as Oil Stagnates --While tariff fallout wreaks havoc on oil prices, growing U.S. LNG export demand is casting a spotlight on the potential for rising natural gas production from the Eagle Ford Shale and Austin Chalk formations in Texas. Natural Gas Intelligence's (NGI) forward basis Houston Ship Channel prices showing future volatility in reference to Henry Hub markets. Expand Since late last year, commissioning LNG export projects on the Gulf Coast have helped boost feed gas demand to new heights. That added demand also has driven a rise in domestic natural gas prices as growing exports collided with winter weather. Several forecasts have indicated Haynesville Shale producers will likely be the first to add rigs to match demand. However, production areas west of Louisiana also could play a key role in the supply balance, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) researchers.
NextDecade Shores Up Rio Grande LNG Train 4 Offtake with 1.5 Mt/y TotalEnergies SPA -NextDecade Corp. has long-term binding and tentative contracts for a majority of the export capacity from Rio Grande LNG Train 4 after a new deal with TotalEnergies. The French super major disclosed Monday it has exercised an option as a part of its equity agreement with NextDecade to purchase 1.5 million tons/year (Mt/y) for 20 years from a proposed fourth train expansion at the Texas terminal. If the project reaches a final investment decision (FID), cargoes would be linked to Henry Hub and delivered on a free-on-board basis starting in 2027 under the sales and purchase agreement (SPA).
Woodside Taps Mexico Pacific CEO to Help Lead Louisiana Export Project — Three Things to Know About the LNG Market -A federal appeals court has upheld Alaska LNG’s ability to ship the super-chilled fuel to non-free trade agreement (NFTA) countries – if it is built. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (DC Circuit) found that the Department of Energy (DOE) properly reviewed potential environmental impacts of the project exporting LNG when an NFTA license was issued. The Sierra Club and other environmental groups challenged DOE’s NFTA approval for the project, arguing it violated the Natural Gas Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.
Trump’s push for more LNG exports risks domestic price surge - When a natural gas export terminal on the Texas coast exploded on June 8, 2022, the plant closed, and the price of gas in the United States suddenly dropped. By the end of the day, it had plummeted 16 percent. The reason: supply and demand. The facility, Freeport LNG, was then one of seven sites in the United States where gas was being liquefied at cryogenic temperatures and shipped overseas. When it closed, less gas could be exported.If gas prices can crash when one plant stops exporting, what does that mean for the years ahead? Will prices rise as the country exports more and more gas overseas? Higher gas costs could dramatically affect people’s heating and electricity bills because North American exports are expected to at least double between 2024 and 2028 as new terminals open. Gas prices will also help determine whether President Donald Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda lowers expenses for American consumers or raises them at a time when new U.S. tariffs are spurring worries of a recession and putting pressure on prices across the economy. Trump suggested last week in the Oval Office that buying billions of dollars of U.S. energy exports could be a way for Europe to avoid his tariffs.Any increase in energy costs breaks Trump’s promise to voters last year that he would cut energy prices in half in his first 18 months, said Tyson Slocum of Public Citizen.“It’s deliberate sleight of hand,” said Slocum, director of the consumer advocacy group’s energy program. “Right now, every major action I’ve seen him undertake is actually going to increase price.”The White House did not respond to requests for comment about Slocum’s assertion or whether Trump has concerns that increased exports could diminish his ability to lower energy prices for Americans.
Could Tariff Wars Threaten Natural Gas Demand Growth? Kinder Morgan Executives Not Buying It -Leadership of Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI) downplayed the impacts of a potential recession on natural gas demand growth, citing an array of supply- and demand-side drivers. Map showing Kinder Morgan Inc.'s Lower 48 pipeline network. Expand In a call with analysts to discuss first quarter earnings for the midstream giant, Executive Chairman Rich Kinder theorized that President Trump’s trade war could even benefit U.S. LNG exporters. He explained that “the announcement of expanded tariffs by the Trump administration inspired others to question whether this would result in less demand for U.S. LNG, thereby reducing the amount of feed gas required in this country.”
China Halts U.S. LNG Imports Amid Tariff War - China hasn’t imported liquefied natural gas from the United States since early February, as the tariff war hit energy trade and could have long-term consequences for U.S. LNG export contracts.The last LNG cargo to arrive in China from America was a tanker from Corpus Christi, which docked in the southern Chinese province of Fujian on February 6, according to shipping data cited by the Financial Times.The Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods, including energy products, and the broader trade war between the world’s two biggest economies could have long-term consequences on the ability of new U.S. LNG export projects to attract anchor offtake commitments, analysts warn.“I do not think Chinese LNG importers will ever contract any new US LNG,” Anne-Sophie Corbeau, a gas specialist at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, told FT.Since the U.S.-China trade war escalated, China’s LNG buyers have been reselling the cargoes they are buying from the U.S. as Chinese tariffs on American goods are raising the costs of U.S. LNG imports.LNG import demand in China has been weaker this year amid comfortably full winter inventories. Chinese LNG imports are expected to drop this year, according to the latest estimates from BloombergNEF. China is set to see the first annual decline in LNG imports since 2022.The trade war and the new tariffs on U.S. LNG are driving major Chinese LNG buyers to stop imports from the United States and resell the cargoes they have already bought or contracted. Following the tariffs, Chinese LNG buyers with long-term supply contracts with U.S. producers have started reselling the cargoes to Europe, Bloomberg reported, citing trading sources. What’s more, Chinese traders have grown cold towards new long-term commitments for future supply from the United States, instead seeking long-term deals with gas producers in the Middle East and the Asia Pacific.
Midcontinent energy execs peg $3.80 as necessary for profitability -- A Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City survey indicates that natural gas prices in the Tenth District, which includes Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, western Missouri, and northern New Mexico, are approaching levels needed for profitable energy activity, averaging $3.80/MMBtu, with $5.10/MMBtu required for significant increases. Current Henry Hub prices are slightly below that at $3.55, with projections of $3.612 for summer and $4.356 for winter 2025/26. Crude oil requires $65/bbl for profitability and $85/bbl for substantial growth, compared to current West Texas Intermediate prices above $61/bbl. First-quarter energy activity rose modestly, marking the first increase since Q4 2022, though revenues and profits declined. Expectations remain positive, but 62% of firms anticipate higher costs due to recent Trump administration trade policy changes, with mixed demand outlooks. Uncertainty around tariffs, high demand, and inflation are pushing development costs, while foreign-sourced inputs are expected to slightly decrease over time.
US natgas prices drop 6% to 9-week low on record output, lower demand (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures fell about 6% to a nine-week low on Monday on record output over the weekend and forecasts for less demand next week than previously expected. Gas futures for May delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 20.2 cents, or 5.7%, to settle at $3.325 per million British thermal units, their lowest close since February 7. The price drop came despite record flows to liquefied natural gas export plants and forecasts for higher gas demand this week than previously expected. Gas stockpiles were currently about 4% below normal levels for this time of year, after cold weather in January and February forced energy firms to pull large amounts of gas out of storage, including record amounts in January. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states rose to 106.3 billion cubic feet per day so far in April, up from a monthly record of 106.2 bcfd in March. On a daily basis, output hit a record 107.4 bcfd on Saturday and Sunday, topping the prior all-time high of 107.3 bcfd on March 24. Looking forward, however, analysts said energy firms could cut back on oil drilling in coming weeks due to the roughly 14% drop in U.S. crude futures so far in April. The crude price drop was related in part to uncertainty tied to U.S. President Donald Trump's on-again off-again trade tariffs. Any reduction in oil drilling in shale basins such as the Permian in Texas and New Mexico and the Bakken in North Dakota could boost gas prices by cutting gas output associated with that production. Meteorologists projected temperatures in the Lower 48 states would remain mostly warmer than normal through April 29. With seasonally milder weather coming, LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48, including exports, will fall from 101.0 bcfd this week to 97.2 bcfd next week. The forecasts for this week were higher than LSEG's outlook on Friday, while its forecast for next week was lower. The average amount of gas flowing to the eight big LNG export plants operating in the U.S. climbed from a monthly record of 15.8 bcfd in March to 16.3 bcfd so far in April, on rising flows to Venture Global's 3.2-bcfd Plaquemines export plant under construction in Louisiana. Gas was trading around $12 per mmBtu at the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) benchmark in Europe and at an eight-month low of around $13 at the Japan Korea Marker (JKM) benchmark in Asia.
US NatGas Prices Slide 3% to 10-Week Low on Near-Record Output, Mild Weather -U.S. natural gas futures slid about 3% on April 16 to a 10-week low on near-record output and a decline in daily flows to liquefied natural gas export plants. In addition, analysts said forecasts for mild weather over the next two weeks should allow utilities to keep pushing lots of gas into storage through early May. U.S. gas stockpiles are around 4% below normal levels for this time of year after cold weather in January and February forced energy firms to pull large amounts of gas out of storage, including record amounts in January. Gas futures for May delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange slid 8.2 cents, or 2.5%, to settle at $3.247/MMBtu, their lowest close since Jan. 31. Meteorologists projected temperatures in the Lower 48 states would remain mostly warmer than normal through May 1. With seasonally milder weather coming, LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48, including exports, will fall from 99.7 Bcf/d this week to 96.7 Bcf/d next week. Those forecasts were slightly higher than LSEG's outlook on April 15. The average amount of gas flowing to the eight big LNG export plants operating in the U.S. climbed from a monthly record of 15.8 Bcf/d in March to 16.2 Bcf/d so far in April on rising flows to Venture Global's 3.2-Bcf/d Plaquemines export plant under construction in Louisiana. On a daily basis, however, LNG feedgas was on track to hold at a one-week low of 16.1 Bcf/d on April 16, down from an average of 16.7 Bcf/d over the prior seven days, according to LSEG data. That daily LNG feedgas decline was mostly due to lower expected flows to Cheniere Energy's 3.9-Bcf/d Corpus Christi export plant in service and under construction in Texas to 1.7 Bcf/d on April 16, down from 2.2 Bcf/d on April 15 and an average of 2.3 Bcf/d over the prior seven days. The Corpus Christi plant includes three 0.8-Bcf/d operating trains and seven 0.2-Bcf/d mid-scale trains under construction. Gas was trading at a one-week high of around $12 per MMBtu at the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) benchmark in Europe and a 10-month low of around $11 at the Japan Korea Marker (JKM) benchmark in Asia.
U.S. natgas prices hold at 10-week low on forecasts for mild weather through early May U.S. natural gas futures held at a 10-week low on Thursday ahead of the long Good Friday holiday weekend on forecasts for the weather to remain mild and demand low through early May. Lack of price movement came despite a federal report showing a smaller than expected weekly storage build, a small decline in daily output and forecasts for more demand over the next two weeks than previously expected. Gas futures for May delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 0.2 cents, or 0.1%, to settle at $3.245 per million British thermal units (MMBtus), their lowest close since January 31 for a second day in a row. That kept the front-month in technically oversold territory for a second day in a row for the first time since January. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said energy firms added 16 Bft3 of gas into storage during the week ended April 11. That was lower than the 22-Bft3 build analysts forecast in a Reuters poll and compares with an increase of 46 Bft3 during the same week last year and a 5-yr average build of 50 Bft3 for this time of year. Analysts said the storage build was smaller than usual as cool weather last week kept heating demand for the fuel higher than normal. Supply and demand. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states rose to 106.3 Bft3d in April, up from a monthly record of 106.2 Bft3d in March. On a daily basis, however, output was on track to drop to a one-week low of 105.5 Bft3d on Thursday as spring pipeline maintenance leaves some gas trapped in production basins, traders and analysts have said. Looking ahead, analysts said energy firms could cut back on oil drilling in the coming weeks due to the roughly 12% drop in U.S. crude futures in April. The crude price drop was related in part to uncertainty tied to U.S. President Donald Trump's on-again off-again trade tariffs, which could reduce economic growth and oil demand. Any reduction in oil drilling in shale basins such as the Permian in Texas and New Mexico and the Bakken in North Dakota could boost gas prices by cutting gas output.
Speed of U.S. LNG Export Capacity Development Creates Natural Gas Price Upside Uncertainty -- The pace of new LNG feed gas demand hitting the market is raising the prospect of upside risk and regional price volatility as the next wave of export projects head closer to commissioning. Chart and map of Lower 48 LNG export facilities tracking daily natural gas feedstock flows to sites for market intelligence. Natural gas storage injection season in the United States started early this year, with net injections beginning in mid-March. East Daley Analytics’ Jack Weixel, senior director of energy analysis, told NGI that storage levels were tracking above the average. However, with flows to developing export projects growing exponentially and an uncertain path for Lower 48 production, Weixel said early injections were likely to only provide a thin buffer compared to the influx of feed gas demand hitting the market.
Could DOGE Workforce Cuts Impact Weather Data Essential to Forecast Natural Gas Supply, Demand? - The importance of weather information for the natural gas market cannot be overstated, according to market weather experts. Market participants rely on the data to help project demand and support supply-side decisions. But, aggressive staffing cuts at the U.S. government’s main forecaster has the market on edge about adequacy of its data going forward. Graph showing Natural Gas Intelligence's (NGI) Henry Hub natural gas price varying with seasonal volatility against Lower 48 demand. “Weather data is one of the most important data points used in the natural gas market to understand and predict demand,” an energy industry meteorologist told NGI. “Very few things influence the demand side – and occasionally the supply side – more.” Data Transmission Network (DTN) Weather and Climate Intelligence manager Renny Vandewege went further, telling NGI, “As you can imagine, weather drives natural gas decisions across the value chain, such as to inform demand peaks and supply, delivery constraints, balancing with other energy sources, and hedge-based purchasing to avoid spot market price spikes and trading.”
Motiva Restarts Unit at Port Arthur Refinery after Lengthy Overhaul -Motiva Enterprises has finally restarted a gasoline-producing unit at its huge Port Arthur refinery in Texas, following several attempts at a restart in recent weeks after an overhaul. Motiva Enterprises, the owner of the second biggest refinery in the United States, has restarted operations at the gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at Port Arthur, sources with knowledge of the plant’s operations told Reuters this week.The refinery’s FCC, which typically converts gas oil into unfinished gasoline, has a capacity of 81,000 bpd. As of Wednesday, the unit was operating at 69,300 bpd capacity, or 86% of full capacity, the sources said.Motiva shut the FCC unit at the end of January 2025 for an overhaul, which was planned to last two months. Since the end of March, the refiner, owned by Saudi oil giant Aramco, has made three attempts to restart the unit.The third attempt appears to have been successful as the unfinished gasoline being produced at the cracker is meeting test standards, according to Reuters’ sources.The Port Arthur Refinery produces conventional gasoline, commercial aviation fuel, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel, Export (High Cetane) Diesel, and Texas Low Emissions Diesel. The refinery typically produces 275,000 barrels of branded fuel every day and 40,000 barrels of base oil per day, according to Motiva Enterprises.The refinery is the second largest in the United States by operable capacity, after Marathon Petroleum’s 631,000-bpd refinery at Galveston Bay, Texas, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration as of January 1, 2024.Of the five largest U.S. refineries, four are located in Texas and one in Louisiana, as the U.S. Gulf Coast hosts a large portion of America’s refining capacity. More than 48% of total U.S. petroleum refining capacity is located along the Gulf Coast, as well as 51% of total U.S. natural gas processing plant capacity.
Army Corps fast-tracks permitting for Michigan pipeline tunnel - The move drew backlash from longtime opponents of the Line 5 project, but developer Enbridge said the review process has been underway for five years.The Army Corps of Engineers will speed up its review of a planned Michigan pipeline tunnel meant to cross under the Straits of Mackinac, exposing the stark divide between the project’s opponents and backers.On Wednesday, the Army Corps’ Detroit District named Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel as an “energy project” that’s subject to President Donald Trump’s “energy emergency” executive order signed on his first day back in office. Trump’s order directed the Army Corps to use emergency authority under the Clean Water Act to accelerate pipeline construction.Enbridge’s underground tunnel would house a replacement segment of Line 5, which carries light crude oil and natural gas liquids and currently sits on the lakebed of the Straits of Mackinac. The straits divide Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas.The project has long been a source of tension between environmental groups fearful of an oil spill in the Great Lakes, backers of the project who reject calls to shut down the pipeline and ongoing court proceedings. Now, the Army Corps has granted national energy emergency status to the $750 million tunnel project.
Oil and gas industry targets Colorado’s emission rules as Trump urges repeal of state-level energy overreach -- Western Colorado oil industry stakeholders are suing the Centennial State, in a bid that they say serves to protect energy security and job interests in the region. Specifically, the West Slope Oil & Gas Association — a branch of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association umbrella group — recently filed a complaint against the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission’s newly adopted Midstream Oil and Gas Rule. The lawsuit was submitted on March 21 but only made public in a press release last week, just days after President Trump issued an executive order that sought to protect “American energy from state overreach.” The complaint, filed in Denver County’s District Court, cites grave economic damage, infeasible implementation requirements and harm to local communities and the environment. In filing the suit, the West Slope group explained that it seeks to safeguard the state’s “critical oil and gas industry,” which generated more than $48 billion for Colorado’s economy and $15.4 billion in direct labor revenue in 2021 alone. “Colorado’s overly prescriptive and inflexible regulations have unfairly targeted the midstream operators in Western Colorado, where economic realities and logistical challenges differ significantly from the Front Range,” said Cody Davis, commissioner of Mesa County, in a statement. Davis — whose county is located along the Western Slope, the part of the state west of the Continental Divide — stressed that fossil fuel industry operators “have consistently proven their commitment to environmental stewardship.” “Yet the Commission’s one-size-fits-all approach has failed to recognize the impractical and devastating effects these new regulations will have on our West Slope communities,” the commissioner added. The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission adopted the midstream rule in December, with an effective date of Feb. 15. The first-in-nation rule addresses emissions from midstream oil and gas operations, such as facilities that gather, compress and process natural gas, as well as engines, turbines and heaters. Under the regulation, midstream facilitates have until 2030 to meet greenhouse gas emissions limits and must maintain these reduced levels each year thereafter, while adhering to additional targets beyond 2030. The West Slope Colorado Oil & Gas Association noted that in reality, this means that local operators whose pipelines and facilities transport natural gas to businesses and homes would need to cut emissions by 20.5 percent from 2015 levels by 2030.
Oil and Gas Industry Navigates Emission Reduction Challenges - Decarbonization in the oil and gas sector has long been a pressing and highly debated topic among stakeholders. With 2025 being a milestone year for emissions targets, the question remains: will it mark a period of downward revisions, a continuation of the current trajectory, or a moment for companies to intensify their efforts? The direction and scale of change will ultimately determine whether these companies can achieve their intermediate emission targets and make meaningful progress towards broader net-zero commitments. This year will be pivotal for measuring the oil and gas industry’s environmental progress, as several corporations have set 2025 as a benchmark for achieving interim reductions in Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. But the reality is that not all companies' targets and data measurement methodologies are standardized and verified by third-party organizations. Furthermore, the complexity of these metrics — and the variability of reduction measures — can raise questions about the credibility and comparability of the targets. Rystad Energy analyzes 120 key oil and gas companies, each of which has its own strategy for reducing emissions. These companies’ upstream operations collectively emitted more than 630 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024, representing around 58% of the industry’s total emissions last year. The pressure to decarbonize has reshaped oil and gas company strategies in recent years, and most — from international majors to national oil companies (NOC) and regional players — publicly outlining their strategies and committing to various decarbonization pathways. This year will be a milestone for many: in our analysis, more than 20 companies have interim emission-reduction targets for 2025, especially in Scope 1 and 2. Several companies, based on the progress they reported, already achieved their intermediate 2025 targets back in 2023. For example, BP, France’s TotalEnergies and US gas independent Expand Energy had already surpassed their targets as of 2023. BP, in particular, had reduced its absolute emissions by 41% that year, well above the targeted 20%, while Expand exceeded its target by 14%. At the same time, for the second consecutive year, BP’s absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions have increased on a year-on-year basis. In 2024 Compared to 2023, emissions rose by 5%. The company attributes this increase primarily to the ramp-up or commencement of several projects in 2024, which begs the question of how long this reverse trend will continue, as the company is no longer planning to reduce its hydrocarbon output. While target-setting is an important part of oil and gas company strategic plans, the starting points, actual performance, and understanding of how these reductions were achieved should be an essential part of their overall strategic decision-making process The chart below shows how different peer groups have managed to reduce their absolute and upstream emissions intensity since 2019. Among the 120 key oil and gas companies selected, distinct segments can be categorized to assess their progress in reducing emissions over the last five years. We analyzed upstream CO? emissions and reduction trends from 2019 to 2023 across major company categories. For example, within the NOC/INOC group, European companies such as Equinor, OMV and MOL have substantially reduced their absolute emissions and lowered their emissions intensity. In contrast, Russian NOCs such as Gazprom and Rosneft have increased their emissions in both metrics since 2019. Similar disparities are observed in the regional company and global independent segments, illustrating how regional factors and operational environments influence emission-reduction outcomes. The US and European majors segment stands out as the best-performing group. Highly scrutinized for their decarbonization efforts, these companies have implemented various strategies, including divestments, operational efficiency improvements, electrification, flaring reduction and methane emissions control. TotalEnergies, for example, has reduced emissions through combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) phase-outs, electrification, and eliminating routine flaring at assets such as OML 100 in Nigeria. Decarbonization in the oil and gas sector has long been a pressing and highly debated topic among stakeholders. With 2025 being a milestone year for emissions targets, the question remains: will it mark a period of downward revisions, a continuation of the current trajectory, or a moment for companies to intensify their efforts? The direction and scale of change will ultimately determine whether these companies can achieve their intermediate emission targets and make meaningful progress towards broader net-zero commitments.
American Shale Chief Tells Peers to Stop Drilling 'Right Away" -- Shale boss Bryan Sheffield, the son of Pioneer Natural Resources founder Scott Sheffield, appears to have called on America’s shale drillers to cut drilling immediately, as Brent crude flirts with prices below $60 and WTI falls to $57/barrel. Sheffield, who controls Formentera Partners LP, told Bloomberg he is planning to delay drilling in some cases, shift focus to existing short-term drilling contracts, and return to expanding the company’s uncompleted wells once the market stabilizes, given the chaos and oil price plunge caused in part by Trump’s tariff warfare.Sheffield reportedly told Bloomberg that the situation right now is a “blood bath”.“The industry needs to cut immediately and hunker down to let the tariff war play out,” Sheffield was quoted as saying.Earlier this week, during a Permian basin golf tournament, American shale drillers let their frustrations with the Trump administration be known, according to a Bloomberg report. The industry is frustrated over its high level of support for the new administration, which has since caused a severe oil price plunge despite promises of a future where shale drillers could “drill baby, drill”.Shale drillers contributed significantly to Trump’s election campaign and were responsible essentially for “making America great again” by catapulting the country to the status of top crude producer in the world. The betrayal is now being felt as prices continue to tank.
US drillers add oil and gas rigs for first time in four weeks, Baker Hughes says (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week added oil and natural gas rigs for the first time in four weeks, energy services firm Baker Hughes (BKR.O), opens new tab said in its closely followed report on Thursday. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose by two to 585 in the week to April 17. , , Sign up here. Baker Hughes released the rig count report one day early on Thursday due to the Good Friday holiday. Despite this week's rig increase, Baker Hughes said the total count was still down 34 rigs, or 5% below this time last year. Baker Hughes said oil rigs rose by one to 481 this week, while gas rigs gained one to 98. In the Utica shale basin, which covers parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, drillers added two rigs, bringing the total rig count to 13, the highest since February 2024. The oil and gas rig count declined by about 5% in 2024 and 20% in 2023 as lower U.S. oil and gas prices over the past couple of years prompted energy firms to focus more on boosting shareholder returns and paying down debt rather than increasing output. Even though analysts forecast U.S. spot crude prices would decline for a third year in a row in 2025, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projected crude output would rise from a record 13.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024 to around 13.5 million bpd in 2025. That increase in U.S. crude output, however, was lower than EIA's outlook in March due to lower oil price forecasts as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs increase the chances of weaker global economic growth and oil demand. The EIA's annual forecast this week also showed that the nearly two-decades-old shale boom that turned the U.S. into the world's largest oil producer is drawing closer to its end, challenging Trump's vision of unleashing higher domestic oil supply. U.S. oil output will peak at 14 million bpd in 2027 and maintain that level through the end of the decade, before rapidly declining, the EIA said. Shale production will peak at 10 million bpd in 2027, up from about 9.7 million bpd this year, and then fall to 9.3 million bpd by 2050.
Keystone operator restarts pipeline nearly a week after spill - The operator of the Keystone pipeline restarted the oil conduit less than a week after it ruptured, spilling thousands of barrels of crude in southeastern North Dakota.Calgary-based South Bow said Monday that federal pipeline regulators approved the company’s repair and restart plans, allowing it to move forward with a “carefully controlled” restart. Also on Monday, spokesperson Nathaniel Sizemore of the Department of Transportation confirmed that the department had given a green light to South Bow’s plans. He said the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration — which is part of DOT — acted quickly to send investigators to the site in North Dakota and to South Bow’s headquarters in Canada. “As part of our safety investigation, the operator was required to submit a repair plan and a restart plan. These plans met PHMSA standards and the agency has signed off on both,” Sizemore said in a statement. “PHMSA’s investigation is ongoing and the pipeline is operating at reduced pressure until PHMSA is confident that the pipeline can resume normal operations.”
Keystone Pipeline resumes operating after oil spill in North Dakota --The Keystone Pipeline resumed operations Monday at a reduced pressure as cleanup efforts continue from an oil spill in North Dakota. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said it approved operator South Bow’s plan to restart the pipeline, after a corrective action order issued by the federal regulators. The company shut down the Keystone Pipeline on April 8 after a drop in pressure. South Bow later estimated that about 3,500 barrels, or 147,000 gallons, of oil spilled in a farm field near Fort Ransom. The spill was contained to the field. The failed section of pipe was excavated and replaced, according to a statement from PHMSA. The failed section will be sent to Houston for testing. South Bow in a statement described it as a “carefully controlled restart” of the pipeline. The repaired line will be tested at various pressures, regulators said. The Keystone Pipeline carries Canadian oil through the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba then south through the Midwest. Regulators remained at the spill site and planned to continue monitoring the operator’s compliance. As of Friday, an estimated 1,170 barrels, or 49,140 gallons, of oil had been recovered by five vacuum trucks.
Intensity Infrastructure plans second phase of Bakken Shale natural gas pipeline Following the conclusion of an open season on Phase 1 of the Intensity natural gas egress pipeline in the Bakken, its developer launched April 17 an open season for a second phase to take gas further east in North Dakota. Intensity Infrastructure Partners is planning a second phase of the pipeline "as a result of feedback gathered during its initial open season," it said on April 17. The second phase would comprise 208 miles of 30-inch pipeline running east from McLean County to Casselton, North Dakota, around 20 miles from the border with Minnesota. It has an estimated in-service date of Jan. 1, 2030, the company said. An open season on the first phase, which will run 136 miles from the Bakken in western North Dakota into McLean County, concluded in March. Intensity Infrastructure has slightly revised down the planned size of the first phase. It will have a diameter of 36 inches and the pipeline will have an initial capacity of 1.1 Bcf/d, expandable to 1.5 Bcf/d with compression, the company said on April 17. When launching the first open season on Feb. 3, the company had envisioned a 42-inch pipeline with an initial capacity of 1.5 Bcf/d. Intensity Infrastructure expects the gas to be consumed within the state. "The pipeline will be permitted as an intrastate Hinshaw pipeline pursuant to Section 1 (c) of the Natural Gas Act and will serve end users in North Dakota," Chief Commercial Officer Matthew Griffin said by email on April 17. Intrastate pipes are considered 'Hinshaw' lines if the gas is received and used within the state and subject to state regulation. Potential receipt points include interconnections with Northern Border and WBI Energy interstate pipeline systems, and also several gas processing plants, according to the open season document. The Intensity project is in competition with Bakken East, an expansion on the WBI Energy System that would have a capacity of up to 760,000 Dt/d and could run around 375 miles from the Bakken to central North Dakota, WBI Energy said when launching a non-binding open season in December 2024. "WBI Energy is actively engaged with potential customers and landowners along the proposed route to ensure the project is designed responsibly while meeting the long-term natural gas transportation needs of the region," spokesperson Mark Snider said on April 17. "The benefits of our existing pipeline and storage assets, as well as potential new pipeline interconnects, have been viewed positively by potential customers for this project, and we are pleased with our discussions to date." S&P Global Commodity Insights expects production to peak around 3.8 Bcf/d in the mid to late 2030s, up from current production of around 2.6 Bcf/d, analyst Anna Trier said. For now, limited pipeline capacity is constraining production, which has been hovering close to 2.6 Bcf/d since late 2023, according to data from Commodity Insights. Gas produced in the Bakken competes with Canadian gas for space on the Northern Border Pipeline, driving down prices in Western Canada; The AECO C cash prices held an average discount of $2.68/MMBtu to Henry Hub in the first quarter of 2025, compared with 53 cents in the same period of 2024 according to data from Platts, part of Commodity Insights. So far this April the basis discount has averaged $1.94/MMBtu, compared with 57 cents/MMBtu in April 2024. Some relief for the basin will come when Kinder Morgan's Bakken xPress and TC Energy's Bison XPress start service. The linked projects will add 300 MMcf/d of transport capacity from the Bakken to the Cheyenne Hub. The projects were approved by the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in October 2024 and are planned to start service in 2026.
Oil company fined record $18 million for defying state orders to stop work on pipeline -The California Coastal Commission fined an oil company a record $18 million on Thursday for repeatedly defying orders to stop work on a corroded pipeline in Santa Barbara County that caused a major oil spill nearly a decade ago. The vote sets the stage for a potentially high-stakes test of the state’s power to police oil development along the coast. The onshore pipeline in Gaviota gushed more than 100,000 gallons of crude oil onto coastal land and ocean waters, shutting down fisheries, closing beaches and harming marine life and coastal habitats in 2015. Sable Offshore Corp., a Houston-based company, purchased the pipeline from the previous owners, Exxon Mobil, last year, and is seeking to restart the Santa Ynez offshore oil operation.The Coastal Commission said Sable has done something no alleged violator has ever done before: ignoring the agency’s multiple cease-and-desist orders and continuing its work. “Our orders were valid and legally issued, and Sable’s refusal to comply is a refusal to follow the law,” said Commissioner Meagan Harmon, who also is a member of the Santa Barbara City Council. “Their refusal, in a very real sense, is a subversion of the will of the people of the state of California.”The company argued it can proceed using the pipeline’s original county permit issued in the 1980s. In February, Sable sued the Coastal Commission saying the state is unlawfully halting the company’s repair and maintenance work. At a 5-hour public hearing in Santa Barbara, more than 100 speakers lined up, many of them urging the commission to penalize Sable and stop its work. Some invoked memories of the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill as well as the massive 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill caused by a blowout on a Union Oil drilling rig.
Valero may shutter Northern California refinery - Valero Energy announced Wednesday it is considering whether to close one of its two California oil refineries next year, putting the state on notice that it could lose nearly 9 percent of its refining capacity. Valero Refining, a subsidiary of Valero Energy, said it had notified the California Energy Commission of its plans “to idle, restructure, or cease refining operations” at its Benicia refinery by the end of April 2026.It’s the second California refinery to announce a pending closure in the past six months as the state targets the oil industry in an effort to rein in carbon emissions and gas prices. The refinery is the state’s sixth-largest, responsible for about 9 percent of the state’s crude oil refining capacity, according to the California Energy Commission. It produces gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and asphalt and employs about 400 people.
Chris Wright promised a ‘golden age’ for oil. His old company is bracing for a storm. - The oil company founded by Energy Secretary Chris Wright reported falling profits Thursday, warning investors that the oil industry faces “storm clouds on the horizon” amid President Donald Trump’s tariff blitz. Liberty Energy is a barometer of the health of America’s oil patch. The Denver-based company provides fracking services to oil and gas companies, and it is of growing importance today — as the company was founded by Wright and is one of the first oil firms to report its first quarter earnings amid the president’s push to impose tariffs on a broad-range of imported goods. “As we look forward, of course, there are some storm clouds on the horizon,” Liberty CEO Ron Gusek told financial analysts. “We don’t know if that storm is going to roll in here or not.” Liberty executives sought to put a good face on the moment. They noted the oil and gas industry is a cyclical business and that drillers are in better shape to withstand a downturn than in previous years. They predicted drilling activity would pick up in the second quarter, as winter turned to spring. And they expressed hope that Trump’s decision to pause a wide range of tariffs had relieved pressure on the global economy. But the tone was a far cry from the “golden era of American energy dominance” that Wright promised shortly after becoming Energy secretary earlier this year. Liberty’s quarterly profit of $165 million represented its worst quarter since the first three months of 2022 and was down from almost $239 million in the same quarter last year. Liberty’s stock has fallen around 40 percent since the start of year. Company executives conceded a slowdown in the oil patch could occur if oil prices continued to slide. West Texas Intermediate, the benchmark for American crude, has lost more than 20 percent from its high of around $80 a barrel in early January. The company will be closely watching its capital expenditures and share buyback as market conditions evolved, Gusek said, adding, “We will be keenly focused on a fortress like balance sheet that will enable us to navigate whatever is coming our way.” The Department of Energy did not respond to a request for comment.
EIA Annual Energy Outlook: Oil & NatGas Demand Peaks in 2027/2032 -- Marcellus Drilling News - Et tu, Brute? We’ve poked fun at “peak oil” and “peak gas” quacks for years (over a decade). People like Art Berman who pronounce, on a regular basis, that we’ve finally hit peak oil (or gas) production and/or demand, and that from here on out, fossil fuels will decline. They’re wrong every single time. Yet now, none other than the number crunchers at the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) are making their own “peak” predictions. In its latest Annual Energy Outlook (AEO) for 2025, the EIA says we will likely see U.S. crude oil output hit a peak of 14 million barrels per day by 2027. Natural gas has a longer fuse, hitting a high of 43.44 trillion cubic feet per annum in 2032.
White House moves to cut BLM lands rule, Alaska protections - The Trump administration is moving to rescind two key Biden-era rules finalized by the Bureau of Land Management last year that advanced protections for millions of acres across the West and Alaska’s North Slope.The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs posted a notice Tuesday that BLM’s signature public lands rule, which was implemented in June, is under formal review and has been marked for possible “rescission.”OIRA, which is part of the White House Office of Management and Budget, also posted Tuesday it is reviewing a BLM rule implemented last year that restricts oil and gas development in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A).Both notices indicate the review involves BLM developing proposed rules to rescind the two Biden-era policies. An Interior Department spokesperson said in a brief emailed statement to POLITICO’s E&E News that, in accordance with orders issued in February by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to increase energy development on public lands, “the BLM will pursue rescinding both rules.”The rescission of both rules would affect the management of millions of acres of public lands. The conservation and landscape health rule includes measures to place conservation and restoration on par with oil and gas drilling, mining and other uses across 245 million acres overseen by BLM; the NPR-A rule restricted oil and gas development within the 23-million-acre reserve in Alaska’s North Slope.The timeline for completing the reviews and rules rescission isn’t clear. Nor is it known whether there will be opportunities for public review and comment.A White House spokesperson referred questions about the OIRA review notices to the Interior Department, which did not address the timeline for rescinding the rules in its emailed statement. OMB representatives didn’t respond to a request for information.The OIRA reviews are not surprising, given that congressional Republicans have made several attempts to revoke the public lands rule. What’s more, both President Donald Trump and Burgum have publicly discussed plans to ramp up development of oil and gas and other mineral resources across Alaska.Burgum may have telegraphed the NPR-A rule review last week when he told Interior employees during an “All Hands Meeting” that restricting oil and gas development there makes no sense, noting it serves as the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve.He also mocked the controversy over BLM’s approval in 2023 of ConocoPhillips’ Willow drilling project inside the NPR-A.“This is not a national wildlife refuge, it’s the national strategic petroleum reserve,” Burgum told employees. “We have a bunch of resources on the North Slope, it was designated, and then somehow we decided we can’t even produce energy in a national strategic petroleum reserve.”
DC Circuit rebuffs challenge to DOE approval of Alaska gas exports -- A federal appeals court has dismissed an effort by environmental groups to challenge a Department of Energy gas export approval for a planned Alaska terminal.In a 12-page decision Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit sided with DOE and a 2023 order from the department.DOE’s order affirmed a Trump-era approval from 2020 that authorized liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from the proposed Alaska LNG project to countries that don’t have a free trade agreement with the United States. Environmental groups argued in October that DOE’s review of the Alaska LNG proposal under the National Environmental Policy Act was “uneven” and included uncertainties about the project’s climate risk, while finding the project would be economically positive.
Trump administration moves to expand offshore drilling — including in the Arctic --The Trump administration announced Friday it was moving to expand offshore drilling, potentially including in the Arctic. In a Friday press release, the Trump administration said it would replace a Biden-era plan for offshore drilling in the years ahead that included the fewest number of opportunities for new drilling in the history of the program. The administration also indicated it was eyeing future drilling off Alaska’s coast in the “High Arctic” — in contrast with the Biden plan that drilled only in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s not entirely clear where exactly all new drilling will take place under the Trump plan, as the initial step being taken is called a “request for information,” which seeks to ask the public for input on where and when it should auction off offshore drilling rights. But Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, in the press release, indicated it would advance the administration’s goal of producing more oil and gas “Launching the process to develop the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Program marks a decisive step toward securing American Energy Dominance,” Burgum said. “Through a transparent and inclusive public engagement process, we are reinforcing our commitment to responsible offshore energy development—driving job creation, bolstering economic growth and strengthening American energy independence.”
DC Circuit leans toward FERC in Texas-to-Mexico gas pipeline case - An appeals court appeared likely Thursday to uphold federal energy regulators’ limited jurisdiction over a proposed pipeline carrying Texas gas bound for a planned liquefied natural gas export facility in Mexico. During oral arguments, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit appeared unswayed by claims that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission improperly restricted its analysis of ONEOK’s Saguaro Connector pipeline to 1,000 feet of the project near the U.S.-Mexico border. The judges pressed for clarity on what the Natural Gas Act said about FERC’s legal obligations to analyze the pipeline exporting gas. “What is the test that we, FERC or whoever are supposed to apply?” asked Judge Patricia Millett, an Obama appointee. “There has to be some legal basis to say that FERC had to define the export facility longer,” she said, referring to the segment of the pipeline crossing the border.
Uniper Nets 2 Mt/y in LNG Supply Deals Linked to Woodside’s Louisiana LNG -- Germany’s Uniper SE has secured multiple supply deals with Australia’s Woodside Energy Group Ltd., including for U.S. LNG, as the Louisiana export project moves toward sanctioning. Uniper, Europe’s largest natural gas buyer, agreed to purchase up to 2 million tons/year (Mt/y) in a pair of deals disclosed Wednesday (April 16). “This deal will support our security of supply and flexible generation strategy together with the potential development of additional gas-fired power plants in Germany to complement the renewable build-up,” Uniper CEO Michael Lewis said.
Summer LNG Import Forecasts Signal Higher Demand, Natural Gas Prices — The Offtake -- A look at the global natural gas and LNG markets by the numbers
- 20%: The European Union’s (EU) energy regulatory authority estimates that member states will have to import more LNG at a higher price than last year to meet the bloc’s 90% storage target. The Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) forecast that the EU would need to import 20% more LNG, around 70 Bcm, during the coming summer than it did last year. Forward prices in April also indicate global LNG prices would continue to rise after a 50% year/year jump during the winter, according to ACER researchers.
- 10 Mt: Europe’s rise in LNG demand this summer is a part of an overall squeeze in supply and upturn in global prices this year, according to Kpler analysts. The firm estimated LNG imports between April and September would jump 10 million tons (Mt) compared with last year, reaching nearly 204 Mt. Most of those volumes are expected to head to Europe, but Egypt and China also are forecast to increase summer LNG imports year/year as above average heat sets in.
- 50 cents: European benchmark natural gas prices are rising slightly after tariff news shocked the market. However, EU LNG importers still could be hesitant to make a move given the uncertainty of a looming trade war, analysts with Energi Danmark said. The Title Transfer Facility rose almost 50 cents by the middle of the week, compared to $10.947/MMBtu at Friday close. Meanwhile, spot East Asian LNG prices have continued to stay about $1 ahead of Europe as buyers search for volumes.
- $3.85: Venture Global LNG Inc. has loaded its first cargo for a long-term contractor holder from its Calcasieu Pass terminal, marking a shift in its earnings outlook. Galp Energia SGPS SA disclosed Wednesday that a ship loaded at the Louisiana facility earlier in the week with the firm’s first contracted cargo. Venture Global has estimated that it could earn an average $3.85/MMBtu fee for contracted volumes, compared to $7.94 per spot cargo from Plaquemines LNG.
Unplanned Outages in Asia, Europe Halt Steep Drop in Global Natural Gas Prices — LNG Recap - Supply disruptions in Asia and Europe helped to lift natural gas prices on Monday in a break from the steady declines that have characterized the market in recent weeks amid increasing trade tensions. Chart and map of Lower 48 LNG export facilities tracking daily natural gas feedstock flows to sites for market intelligence. President Trump’s onslaught of tariffs have spooked financial markets and weighed on commodity prices. But temporary exemptions from U.S. tariffs on smartphones and computers offered a reprieve as the financial markets rallied Monday. Meanwhile, problems at the Aasta Hansteen and Dvalin fields offshore Norway, along with issues at LNG terminals serving Asia, helped lift prices. The prompt Title Transfer Facility (TTF) contract, which has fallen for three weeks in a row, gained 3% to finish at $11.45/MMBtu on Monday.
Indonesia to Offer to Buy $10 Billion of Additional U.S. Energy Goods - As Indonesia seeks to negotiate a reduction of a planned tariff of 32% on Indonesian goods sold in the United States, the government of Southeast Asia’s biggest economy will offer to buy an additional $10 billion worth of American oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Indonesia was slapped with one of the highest tariffs - 32% - in the “liberation day” tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. These tariffs were suspended last week for 90 days, during which the Trump Administration expects most countries to come pleading their cases and promising to boost their imports of U.S. goods to avoid high tariffs. Indonesia’s Energy Ministry has recommended an increase in the import quota for U.S. LPG and higher imports of U.S. crude oil, Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia told local media on Tuesday. With the offer of $10 billion more U.S. energy imports, Indonesia plans to buy total U.S. goods worth between $18 billion and $19 billion to eliminate its trade surplus with America. Indonesian officials are heading to the U.S. to discuss tariffs and how to potentially buy their way out of them. Indonesia’s imports of U.S. crude oil are estimated to have averaged just 13,000 barrels per day (bpd) last year, out of the total 306,000 bpd crude imports, according to Kpler data cited by Reuters. Indonesia is just one of the countries looking to buy their way out of steep tariffs with deals to purchase American energy products. South Asian nation Pakistan is actively considering the idea of importing U.S. crude oil for the first time to seek a reduction of its trade surplus with America. South Korea is reportedly looking at more LNG imports to get Washington to drop the tariffs, while India is weighing the option to scrap its import tax on American liquefied natural gas to increase U.S. LNG imports and reduce its trade surplus with the United States.
Pakistan Weighs First-Ever U.S. Oil Imports to Reduce Trade Surplus - Pakistan is actively considering the idea of importing U.S. crude oil for the first time to seek a reduction of its trade surplus with America and avoid one of the highest tariffs – currently paused – on its goods sold in the United States.Crude oil is one of the products that Pakistan is actively exploring to buy from the U.S. to appease President Donald Trump, a Pakistani government source and an executive at a local refinery told Reuters on Tuesday.Pakistan imported about 140,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil last year, mostly from the major OPEC producers in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Now, the South Asian country is weighing the possibility of buying U.S. crude for the first time ever to avoid a 29% tariff on its goods sold in America, its top trade partner. The 29% tariff on Pakistani goods was announced by President Trump on the so-called “liberation day,” but was paused for 90 days last week, as were all additional tariffs on all other countries except China.A Pakistani delegation is heading to Washington D.C. these days to negotiatetariffs and could use a minerals deal as leverage, government officials told the BBC on Monday.Crude oil “is one of the products being reviewed ahead of a delegation leaving for the U.S. to talk about tariffs,” the government source directly involved with the proposal to buy more U.S. crude told Reuters.Pakistan’s idea is to buy crude oil from the United States equivalent to the value of its current imports of oil and refined products, which is estimated at around $1 billion, the refinery executive told Reuters.Pakistan is just one of the countries looking to buy their way out of steep tariffs with deals to purchase American energy products. South Korea, for example, is reportedlylooking at more LNG imports to get Washington to drop the tariffs, while India is weighing the option to scrap its import tax on American liquefied natural gas to increase U.S. LNG imports and reduce its trade surplus with the United States.
Ecuador Oil Spill Affected 150,000 People, UN Assessment Finds *A massive oil spill in Ecuador last month has left at least 150,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance, according to an assessment by UN aid coordination office OCHA. The disaster was caused by the rupture of the SOTE pipeline in Esmeraldas province in March, resulting in the spilling of more than 25,000 barrels of oil. The UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination, team, which is part of OCHA, carried out the assessment. In addition to the thousands affected, the team also pointed to a concerning increase in respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as limited access to safe drinking water. People's livelihoods have been particularly hit hard, especially in fishing, agriculture and shellfish harvesting. OCHA said more than 37,000 women have lost their means of earning a living. Many are shellfish gatherers and now face growing health risks and exposure to gender-based violence. According to a press release, the UN is testing water from affected rivers, treatment plants and seafood from the ocean to see if it has the presence of hydrocarbons and heavy metals, as it could have long term environmental and health repercussions. UN Resident Coordinator in Ecuador Lena Savelli has shared the findings and recommendations with Government ministers and the national humanitarian forum.
Guerillas Blow Up Oil Pipeline in Colombia -The Bicentenario crude oil pipeline in Colombia has been shut down following an explosion that state oil company Ecopetrol said was caused by a guerrilla attack.Per a Reuters report citing the company, the Bicentenario pipeline was hit by the National Liberation Army. Reuters notes the NLA is the largest guerrilla organization in Colombia and is considered a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union. Guerilla groups have recently stepped up their attacks on oil pipelines in Colombia. Last year, at one point Ecopetrol reportedas many as five attacks on two pipelines: Bicentenario and Cano Limon-Covenas. The government deployed the army to the pipelines to protect Ecopetrol staff that was repairing the infrastructure.Colombia has been struggling to reverse a decline in oil production over the past five years and now has an ambition to boost its daily average to over 1 million barrels, from around 800,000 barrels in 2024. State oil company Ecopetrol is contributing to the output increase through enhanced oil recovery techniques, improving extraction volumes from reservoirs. Colombia's 2024 oil recovery rate averaged 27 percent, energy minister Andres Camacho said last May.At the same time, the current government has ambitious plans for wind and solar growth as it seeks to reduce Colombia’s dependence on oil, gas, and coal revenues. Hydrocarbons, however, remain a major contributor to budget revenues and the most likely source of transition money, given the price tag of the government’s green plan is $40 billion. Back in 2022, when he came to power, Colombia’s president Gustavo Petro pledged to shift Colombia’s economy away from oil, coal, and gas, in favour of lower-carbon energy alternatives. At the 2023 COP28, Petro became the first leader of a large energy producer to vow phasing out hydrocarbons endorsing a call for something called a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. He also suspended the issuance of new oil and gas licenses in Colombia.
An LNG export tax is the best way to address looming gas shortages and reduce prices | IEEFA --Domestic gas reservation in Australia’s troubled east coast gas market has grabbed headlines in recent weeks, as have gas industry warnings that further market intervention will only make things worse. Eastern Australia faces gas shortages by 2030, and four main solutions are proposed to solve this issue: increasing domestic supply, decreasing domestic demand, importing liquified natural gas (LNG) or redirecting LNG exports to the domestic market (gas reservation).Gas industry group Australian Energy Producers (AEP) argues that “governments and regulators must work with industry to remove regulatory barriers to new gas supply and investment to avoid shortfalls”. New gas production does not, however, guarantee domestic gas supply. Since FY2014-15, gas production has doubled on the east coast but domestic gas consumption has fallen by 25% due to gas prices tripling and Queensland LNG exporters effectively soaking up domestic production for export markets. The federal government also has limited measures to encourage new gas production quickly. In practice, there are only a handful of proposed projects in offshore waters on the east coast (over which the federal government has oversight), but none of the developers cite regulatory approval as a barrier to their projects. Even if they did, it generally takes two to five years for new gas projects to begin supply, unlikely to be fast enough to address the risks of shortages. There is also the risk that even if new gas projects are developed in time, actual production may be less than anticipated. IEEFA modelling shows there is a great potential to decrease gas demand through energy efficiency and electrification for households and some industries. This would lower energy bills, insulate those consumers from high gas prices and materially reduce, but not fully address, the risk of gas shortages. There are a number of live projects to build LNG import terminals in Eastern Australia. They provide a realistic short-term solution to increase supply, but the gas is likely to come at a higher cost than domestically produced gas – at least under current market conditions. This is because significant costs are involved in liquefying the gas, transporting it, then regasifying it. Conversely, IEEFA research has shown significant amounts of uncontracted gas destined for export as spot LNG could be redirected to the domestic market with relatively limited financial impact on LNG producers. Put simply, addressing the risks of gas shortages without increasing gas prices will likely require some form of reservation.
China Halts U.S. LNG Imports Amid Tariff War - China hasn’t imported liquefied natural gas from the United States since early February, as the tariff war hit energy trade and could have long-term consequences for U.S. LNG export contracts.The last LNG cargo to arrive in China from America was a tanker from Corpus Christi, which docked in the southern Chinese province of Fujian on February 6, according to shipping data cited by the Financial Times.The Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods, including energy products, and the broader trade war between the world’s two biggest economies could have long-term consequences on the ability of new U.S. LNG export projects to attract anchor offtake commitments, analysts warn.“I do not think Chinese LNG importers will ever contract any new US LNG,” Anne-Sophie Corbeau, a gas specialist at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, told FT.Since the U.S.-China trade war escalated, China’s LNG buyers have been reselling the cargoes they are buying from the U.S. as Chinese tariffs on American goods are raising the costs of U.S. LNG imports.LNG import demand in China has been weaker this year amid comfortably full winter inventories. Chinese LNG imports are expected to drop this year, according to the latest estimates from BloombergNEF. China is set to see the first annual decline in LNG imports since 2022.The trade war and the new tariffs on U.S. LNG are driving major Chinese LNG buyers to stop imports from the United States and resell the cargoes they have already bought or contracted. Following the tariffs, Chinese LNG buyers with long-term supply contracts with U.S. producers have started reselling the cargoes to Europe, Bloomberg reported, citing trading sources. What’s more, Chinese traders have grown cold towards new long-term commitments for future supply from the United States, instead seeking long-term deals with gas producers in the Middle East and the Asia Pacific.
Understanding the competitive landscape for China’s LNG market –IEEFA - Over the last decade, China has been a shining star in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry. When markets waned in 2016 due to global oversupply, China jumpstarted LNG purchases to become the world’s largest importer in 2021. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Chinese companies signed a flurry of LNG deals while European buyers hesitated to commit to long-term contracts. Gas exporters have also touted LNG’s potential to replace coal and reduce emissions in China. A United States (U.S.) gas producer recently suggested that since China’s electricity mix “mirrors” that of Ohio and Pennsylvania in 2005, China might use LNG to pursue a similar coal-to-gas switching model. When viewed as a simple substitute for coal, China’s LNG demand appears limitless. However, the role of LNG can only be understood in relation to its alternatives. LNG faces intense competition from coal, renewables, and other gas sources in terms of both cost and energy security. In the power sector, for example, LNG has yet to make a dent in China’s coal usage due to high costs and the rapid growth of cheaper renewables. As a result, many expect the rate of China’s gas demand growth to slow, curtailing the need for LNG.Ongoing volatility in global markets and escalating tensions with suppliers like the U.S. have only weakened the case for LNG in China. If the country’s demand stagnates and remains price-responsive, Chinese companies may increasingly look to resell contracted LNG abroad, exacerbating global market oversupply set to emergelater this decade.At first glance, China’s LNG market appears to be booming. Imports jumped nearly 9% in 2024 to 106 billion cubic meters (bcm) or 78 million tonnes (mt), according to Kpler data. The country’s supply came from Australia (34%), Qatar (24%), Malaysia (10%), Russia (9%), and the U.S. (6%).Despite the year-on-year increase in 2024, China’s LNG imports fell 2% shy of record purchases in 2021 and grew at a slower pace than in 2023. The country’s multi-year demand recovery demonstrates the prolonged consequences of market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty on LNG demand.Lower imports compared to three years earlier reflect the country’s slower economic growth, COVID-19 lockdowns, and unaffordable LNG prices exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As prices started to jump in late 2021, Chinese buyers were forced to withdraw from spot markets entirely. In 2022, Chinese LNG demand plummeted 19%.At the same time, Chinese companies dramatically reduced their future spot market exposure by signing long-term contracts. In 2021 and 2022, China signed a combined 44mt of LNG contracts, four times the volume signed in the two years prior. Most of those contracts were signed with the U.S., followed by Qatar, and the largest share will begin deliveries in 2026.China may have sufficient LNG purchase agreements to satisfy LNG demand through 2030, which means Chinese buyers will likely sign fewer contracts in the future. However, this does not necessarily imply that contracted volumes will land in China. Since the majority are with U.S. suppliers offering flexible destination terms, Chinese companies, many of which are active LNG traders, can resell volumes abroad if fundamentals at home favor other energy resources.Although new LNG purchase contracts will begin in the coming years, China has met a growing share of its overall natural gas demand from cheaper, more reliable gas sources, namely domestic production and pipeline imports.Preliminary figures indicate that China’s overall gas consumption increased by 30.7bcm, reaching 428bcm in 2024. Since 2017, China’s apparent gas demand — production plus imports — has increased at an average rate of 8% annually. The largest share of natural gas is consumed in the industrial and city gas segments — which account for 42% and 33%, respectively — followed by the power and fertilizer sectors.
EU plan to end Russian oil and gas imports due out in May -The European Commission will unveil a detailed strategy in May 2025 to phase out Russian oil and gas imports by 2027, following delays due to uncertainties around U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned tariffs, which may impact EU-U.S. energy trade talks. Initially slated for release in March, the roadmap, now set for May 6, aims to end the EU’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels in response to Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Despite a significant drop in Russian pipeline gas deliveries since 2022, the EU increased its imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2024, with Russia supplying 19% of the bloc’s total gas and LNG. The Commission has not detailed specific measures but analysts suggest tariffs on Russian gas imports. The EU is also considering increased LNG purchases from the U.S., though concerns persist about over-reliance on American supplies amid Trump’s trade negotiations.
Key Turkish Refinery Gets Back Into Russian Oil - Turkey’s top oil refiner, Tupras, has resumed purchasing Russian Urals crude oil after a brief halt earlier this year prompted by U.S. sanctions on Moscow. According to trading sources and shipping data reviewed by Reuters, the company restarted imports following a drop in Urals prices below the G7's price cap, reaching their lowest point since 2023. Tupras had previously become one of the largest buyers of Russian crude after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In the first 11 months of 2024, Russian oil accounted for roughly 65% of Turkey’s total oil imports, based on figures from the country’s energy regulator. Although Tupras did not respond to requests for comment, the shift signals a renewed effort to balance geopolitical constraints with economic pragmatism. Tupras’ choice to return to the Russian market appears to be driven more by pricing than politics, as the affordability of Urals crude makes it a financially attractive option despite ongoing Western sanctions. This development comes as global energy markets remain volatile due to conflicts, shifting alliances, and sanctions regimes. The market will be watching to see whether Tupras’ move will prompt others to take similar actions. Right now, everyone is in limbo, trying to test the waters between sanctions compliance and the desire for cheap oil. Earlier this month, Urals crude plunged along with other oil benchmarks, dropping close to $50 per barrel for the first time in nearly two years. On Wednesday, April 16, at 11:46 a.m. Urals was trading at $67.61, compared to Brent crude at $65.96 and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) at $62.63. The Tupras exclusive by Reuters comes a day after reports that the European Commission will, on May 6, unveil its big plan to phase out all Russian oil and gas by 2027, according to a Reuters report.
Sanctioned Russian Oil Exports to China Jump as STS Transfers Rise -Chinese imports of Arctic Russian crude grades are on the rise as ship-to-ship (STS) transfers from sanctioned vessels on non-sanctioned tankers offshore Malaysia and Singapore are booming, according to traders and analysts. The Biden Administration’s farewell sanctions on Russian oil trade and exports sanctioned dozens of vessels carrying the ARCO, Novy port, and Varandey crudes from Russia’s Arctic oil projects. The sanctions, slapped in early January, blacklisted dozens of vessels that Russia used to ship the ESPO crude blend from the Far Eastern port of Kozmino to China’s independent refiners. Many of the vessels, specialized tankers, and shuttle tankers transporting Russia’s oil from the Arctic and Far East Pacific fields and production clusters to Asia have now been sanctioned. Since Chinese buyers began demanding oil to be delivered on non-sanctioned vessels, STS transfers in the South China Sea and near Singapore have been picking up, Russian oil traders have told Reuters. As many as 4 million barrels of Russia’s Arctic crude oil was transferred via STS last week, Emma Li, senior analyst at energy flows analytics firm Vortexa, told Reuters. Another 16 million barrels of Arctic crude from Russia have either arrived or are planned to arrive in the South China Sea in April, Li added. Last month, Chinese crude oil imports rebounded to a 20-month high, also due to increased imports of Russian and Iranian oil. A massive reshuffling of tankers following the sanctions on Russia and Iran has allowed non-sanctioned vessels to pick up trade with Russian and Iranian oil. Iranian crude imports into China surged to a record 1.8 million bpd in March, with Shandong alone absorbing more than 1.5 million bpd and marking a nearly 50% jump from the 2024 average, according to Vortexa. Russian crude is also on the rebound in China, with many cargoes on sanctioned tankers finding buyers in Shandong. Moreover, stranded Russian Arctic cargoes are now targeting Chinese teapot buyers via STS transfers using the dark fleet, Vortexa’s Li noted.
Iraq Plans Oil Export Cuts as OPEC Pushes Discipline-- Iraq plans to cut oil exports next month as OPEC presses members to adhere to production targets, according to an official with knowledge of the matter. The group’s second-largest producer aims to reduce shipments by roughly 100,000 barrels a day to an average of 3.2 million barrels a day in May, the official said, asking not to be identified as the figures aren’t public. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners announced last month they would gradually start reviving production halted two years ago, but sought to offset the increases by insisting on better discipline from quota-violators. Baghdad, along with some other members of the OPEC alliance, is under pressure from the group’s leaders to make extra supply curbs as compensation for overproducing during the past year. OPEC uses oil production rather than exports to measure compliance with its targets. Iraq’s output was about 90,000 barrels a day more than its target last month, according to figures used by OPEC , while estimates from the International Energy Agency put the figure more than 300,000 barrels a day above its quota. While Iraq’s export reduction may indicate it has correspondingly curbed production, an associated drop isn’t guaranteed. The country has in the past often promised quota adherence and then failed to deliver. Baghdad has long chafed against OPEC output limits, as it seeks to rebuild its economy and trading relationships after decades of sanctions and conflict. The country would need an oil price of $92 a barrel in order to cover government spending this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Brent crude futures are trading near $65. Data from OPEC released on Wednesday showed that Iraq made some notional progress with its compensation backlog last month, while Kazakhstan — the group’s biggest offender — instead flouted its limits even more blatantly.
Iraq signs contract for third offshore oil export pipeline - Iraq’s Ministry of Oil announced on Sunday that state-owned Basra Oil Company has signed a contract with Italy’s MICOPERI and Turkey’s ESTA to construct the country’s third offshore crude export pipeline. The new pipeline, which will have a design capacity of 2.4 million barrels per day (bpd), is aimed at enhancing the flexibility and stability of Iraq’s oil exports through its southern ports, local media report citing official statement. The infrastructure will support export operations through Basra Oil Terminal, Khor Al-Amaya Oil Terminal, and a floating Single Point Mooring (SPM) platform. The project scope includes the installation of a 48-inch offshore pipeline extending 61 kilometres at sea and 9 kilometres on land. It also involves the construction of two offshore platforms—one each at Basra Oil Terminal and Khor Al-Amaya—and the deployment of a floating SPM platform. The project cost and completion timelines weren’t disclosed.
OPEC Lowers 2025 Oil Demand Forecast on Trade Tensions - OPEC has revised its global oil demand growth forecast for 2025, citing escalating trade tensions and weaker-than-expected economic indicators. The cartel now anticipates a demand increase of 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd) for 2025, down 150,000 bpd from its previous projection. Similarly, the 2026 forecast has been adjusted downward to 1.28 million bpd. OPEC's latest report highlights that Trump’s tariff war has dampened economic activity, leading to a more cautious outlook on oil consumption. The organization also revised its global economic growth forecast, now projecting a 3% expansion for 2025, down from the earlier estimate of 3.1%. Last week, eight OPEC+ countries announced they would phase-out voluntary oil output cuts by ramping up output by 411,000 barrels per day in May--equivalent to three monthly increments. In other words, the Saudis are signaling they might be willing to give up their long-time role as OPEC’s swing producer in an attempt to take a tougher stance against countries that continue to violate the output pact, most notably Kazakhstan, the UAE and Iraq. The revised forecasts have also impacted oil prices, with Brent crude trading near $66 per barrel, influenced by both the demand outlook and recent tariff exemptions. Analysts suggest that continued trade disputes could further affect market dynamics and investor confidence.? On Monday, April 14, at 11:44 a.m., Brent crude was still trading under $65 per barrel, with the only good news being that it was trading flat instead of down, up a slight 0.05%. The U.S. crude benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), was trading down 0.24% at $61.35. For traders, all eyes now will be awaiting the monthly oil market report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which is set to be released on Tuesday.
IEA slashes 2025 oil demand forecast as trade tensions escalate With escalating trade tensions significantly impacting the global economic outlook, the International Energy Agency (IEA) is forecasting a dramatic fall in oil demand. In its latest Oil Market Report (OMR) published on 15 April, the IEA has downgraded world oil demand growth for 2025 by 300,000 barrels per day (b/d) since the previous month’s report to 730,000b/d. This latest downgrade comes on the heels of robust oil consumption in the first quarter of 2025, which was up by 1.2 million b/d year-on-year, the strongest rate since 2023. The IEA said the recent escalation of trade tensions had negatively impacted the economic outlook. “After a period of relative calm, global oil markets were roiled by a barrage of trade tariff announcements in early April,” the IEA reported. “Benchmark crude oil prices plunged to their lowest levels in four years on a sharp escalation in trade tensions and the prospect of higher supplies from some OPEC+ countries.” While imports of oil, gas and refined products were given exemptions from the tariffs announced by the US, concerns that the measures could stoke inflation, slow economic growth and intensify trade disputes weighed on oil prices. The IEA noted that Brent futures tumbled by more than $23 per barrel to below $94/bbl after the tariffs first hit, but subsequently recovered to around $102/bbl after the implementation of some of the tariffs was postponed. The decision by some OPEC+ members to accelerate the unwinding of extra voluntary production cuts added to the bearish momentum. “With arduous trade negotiations expected to take place during the coming 90-day reprieve on tariffs and possibly beyond, oil markets are in for a bumpy ride and considerable uncertainties hang over our forecasts for this year and next,” the IEA noted. “Global oil demand growth prospects are rapidly shrinking as drastic trade tariffs threaten to hit consumption in the US and China.” “Responding to a paradigm shift in the global economy, the IEA now sees world oil demand growing by […] roughly two-thirds of its previous forecast, to reach 103.5 million b/d.”
'Paradigm shift' in world economy to slash oil demand growth by one-third: IEA | S&P Global -Global oil demand growth prospects are rapidly shrinking as drastic trade tariffs threaten to hit consumption in the US and China, the International Energy Agency said in its monthly oil market report published April 15. Responding to a "paradigm shift in the global economy," the IEA now sees world oil demand growing by just 730,000 b/d this year, roughly two-thirds of its previous forecast, to reach 103.5 million b/d. Seeing a prolonged fallout from a new high-tariff environment initiated by US President Donald Trump on April 2, growth could slow to just 690,000 b/d in 2026, according to new guidance from the Paris-based energy watchdog. "Within a matter of days, the outlook went from solid, if subpar, economic growth to the possibility of recession and expectations of a period of heightened protectionism," it said. Based on its latest figures, the IEA expects a global oil supply overhang of almost 700,000 b/d in 2025, rising to roughly 1 million b/d in 2026. It sees growth in non-OPEC+ supply alone "comfortably eclipsing" consumption growth next year. The IEA had already begun trimming its demand outlook on fears of underwhelming consumption data, warning that key growth markets such as China, India and Southeast Asia could suffer the effects of a deteriorating trade environment. The IEA said emerging Asian economies could consume roughly 600,000 b/d more oil in 2026 than in 2025, while OECD demand is bound for a year-over-year decline. The US and Chinese demand are among the most exposed to slowing economic performance, according to the IEA, which sees particularly punitive tariffs exchanged by the two global powers accounting for half the decline in its 2025 global oil growth outlook. As of April 11, the US and China have pledged import tariffs of 145% and 125% on each other's goods, risking severe repercussions for discretionary spending and industrial growth. Though tariff policies have already proved highly volatile, the IEA warned that "renewed trade hostilities" between the two countries are "unlikely to be short-lived," cautioning that Chinese oil product imports of LPG and ethane could also be caught in the crossfire. Globally, the IEA revised its 2025 GDP growth forecast from 3.1% to 2.4%, warning that the shift could disproportionately hit oil-intensive developing economies. In India, demand contracted for a second month, falling 20,000 b/d year over year in March, though Brazil's consumption outperformed expectations. In an April 4 note, S&P Global Commodity Insights analysts projected that global GDP growth could fall as low as 1.6% in 2025, seeing world oil demand increases drop from 1.2 million b/d to 700,000 b/d or less. The latest monthly oil market report from the OPEC producers' alliance, released on April 14, agreed that tariffs would constrain the world oil demand growth outlook, but it still sees consumption climbing 1.3 million b/d in 2025. The IEA said oil supply growth could also be negatively impacted by the White House's raft of new tariffs, despite OPEC+'s surprise move to lift its output targets. Its latest report put global supply growth at 1.2 million b/d this year, 260,000 b/d lower than its previous outlook. In 2026, the agency now sees production climbing by 960,000 b/d to reach a total of 105.2 million b/d. The revision was led by a 150,000 b/d downgrade to the 2025 production outlook in the US, where drilling can be highly price-elastic. After April 2 tariff announcements shaved roughly $10/b off global oil benchmarks, prices have underperformed the $65/b threshold US shale producers target to drill new wells, the IEA said, warning of likely production shut-ins. US benchmark WTI crude futures were last trading at roughly $62/b at around 0830 GMT on April 15, leaving jitters among producers as prices recovered from below $57/b on April 7. Beyond the US, weaker Venezuelan output promises to drag on the overall outlook for OPEC+ supply, the IEA said, reducing its overall output forecast for the alliance by 50,000 b/d in 2025. Noting falling export activity after a US sanctions crackdown on Venezuela, the report cut its output forecast for the South American oil producer by 100,000 b/d from May onwards. The agency was unmoved by OPEC+'s April 3 pledge to return 411,000 b/d to the market in May, expecting that recent overproduction among its members would limit the real impact felt across the market. "A number of countries, including Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq, are already producing well above their targets," the report said, adding that compensation plans by some producers could curb future output. The UAE pumped 3.26 million b/d of oil in March, while Iraq produced 4.32 million b/d, according to new IEA figures, leaving the two countries a combined 790,000 b/d above their implied targets for the month. The recent startup of Kazakhstan's Tengiz oil field expansion has also put it 390,000 b/d above its quota, the IEA said. As global oil prices tumbled, observed crude, NGL and feedstock inventories surged by roughly 40 million barrels and crude oil on the water jumped, the IEA reported, expecting further inventory gains in March. The rise in crude stocks came despite persistent backwardation for WTI and Brent through March, which priced front-month supply at a premium of roughly 50 cents/b to the month ahead. Storage draws were partly offset by a roughly 20 million barrel draw on oil product reserves, however, and global inventories continue to sit at the bottom of the previous five-year average.
JP Morgan cuts oil price forecasts on weak demand, higher output (Reuters) - JP Morgan on Monday lowered its oil price forecasts for 2025 and next year, citing higher production from OPEC+ and weaker demand. The bank cut its 2025 Brent price forecast to $66 per barrel from $73 and its 2026 target to $58 from $61. It lowered the 2025 WTI price outlook to $62 per barrel from $69 and the 2026 view to $53 from $57. Brent crude futures were trading around $65 on Monday, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were around $61. [O/R] JP Morgan now expects global oil demand to increase by 0.8 million barrels per day (mbd), with growth averaging only 0.3 mbd in the third quarter. "Higher production volumes from the OPEC+ alliance indicate a shift in the reaction function, which, when combined with weaker demand, will push balances into a large surplus and drive Brent down below $60 towards year-end," the bank said in a note. The oil market remains under pressure from an "80% probability of a mild recession coupled with an additional 1 mbd of increased" production by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), JP Morgan analysts said. While OPEC+ is poised to gain market share in 2025, stabilizing the market at $60 Brent in 2026 would require the alliance not only to reverse current production increases, but to implement further cuts, JP Morgan said. Earlier this month, Goldman Sachs reduced its Brent and WTI oil forecasts for 2025 and 2026 on the expectation of higher OPEC+ supply and the risk of an escalating trade conflict will trigger a global recession, denting demand.
Goldman Sachs Cuts Oil Price Outlook Once Again -- Goldman Sachs has reduced its outlook for oil prices for the third time since the start of April, now expecting Brent crude to average $63 this year and $58 in 2026. The bank sees WTI at an average of $59 per barrel this year, falling to $55 in 2026, Reuters reported. The update follows one from April 4, when Goldman slashed its 2025 outlook for Brent and WTI by 5.5% and 4.3%, respectively, to $69 for a barrel of Brent crude and $66 for a barrel of West Texas Intermediate. Then, on April 6, the bank cut its 2026 outlook for the oil benchmarks.“Oil prices would likely exceed our forecast if the Administration were to reverse tariffs sharply and deliver a reassuring message to markets, consumers, and businesses,” Goldman analysts said in their note.In its latest price update, Goldman predicted weaker-than-expected oil demand growth this year, at a modest 300,000 barrels daily this year. Goldman also revised down its demand forecast for the end of 2026, slashing the figure by 900,000 bpd for the final quarter, Reuters also noted in its report.Prices could fall a lot further, too, Goldman said, in case OPEC+ decided to remove the production caps it adopted in 2023. In such a scenario prices could fall to the $40s for Brent crude, the bank’s analysts estimated, adding the global benchmark could even fall below $40 per barrel “in an extreme combined scenario.”“The risks to our reduced oil price forecast are to the downside, especially for 2026, given growing risks of recession and to a lesser extent of higher OPEC+ supply,” Godman said in one of its earlier April notes, referring to the most expected outcome of the tariff war that President Trump started in early April. However, there is a good chance the war will end before it start hitting the global economy, eliminating the biggest risks as defined by Goldman Sachs and thus reducing the danger of a more serious oil price decline.
Oil rise on tariff exemptions and rebound in Chinese imports --Oil prices rose 1% on Monday after U.S. exclusions on some tariffs and Chinese data showing a sharp rebound in crude imports in March, but gains were capped by concerns that the trade war between the United States and China could weaken global economic growth and dent fuel demand. Brent crude futures rose by 62 cents, or 1%, to $65.38 a barrel by 0955 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was also up 62 cents, or 1%, at $62.12. "The news about the exemptions on tariffs has helped lift sentiment across markets," "But there is still a lot of fragility; you have policy risk around this erratic approach to trade that continues to weigh on markets." Late on Friday U.S. President Donald Trump's administration granted exclusions from steep tariffs on smartphones, computers and some other electronic goods imported largely from China. It was the latest in a series of policy announcements that imposed tariffs and then walked them back, spurring uncertainty for investors and businesses. Trump said on Sunday that he would announce the tariff rate on imported semiconductors over the next week. China's crude oil imports in March rebounded sharply from the previous two months and were up nearly 5% from a year earlier, data showed on Monday, boosted by Iranian oil and a rebound in Russian deliveries. However, Brent and WTI have lost about $10 a barrel since the start of the month and analysts have lowered oil price forecasts as the trade war between the world's two largest economies has intensified. Goldman Sachs expects Brent to average $63 and WTI to average $59 for the remainder of 2025, with Brent averaging $58 and WTI $55 in 2026. It sees global oil demand in the fourth quarter of 2025 rising by only 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) year on year, analysts led by Daan Struyven said in a note, adding that slowing demand is expected to be most pronounced for petrochemical feedstocks. The Brent price spread between December 2025 and December 2026 has also flipped into contango as investors have priced in oversupply and demand concerns, said BMI, part of Fitch Solutions. In a contango market, front-month prices are lower than those in future months, indicating no shortage of supply. As companies prepare for a possible decline in demand, the U.S. oil and natural gas rig count dropped for a third consecutive week last week, according to oil services company Baker Hughes. Potentially supporting oil prices, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Friday that the United States could stop Iranian oil exports as part of Trump's plan to pressure Tehran over its nuclear programme. Both countries held "positive" and "constructive" talks in Oman on Saturday and agreed to reconvene next week, officials said over the weekend. "This may help remove some of the sanction risk affecting the oil market, particularly if talks keep on moving in the right direction," ING analysts said in a note.
Oil Market Trades Sideways Amid Tariff Uncertainty and Mixed Signals -- The oil market continued to trade within last Thursday’s trading range as the market weighed the news of exemptions for some electronic goods from U.S. tariffs and data showing an increase in China’s crude imports in March against concerns that the trade war could weaken global economic growth. The market was supported early in the session by the news that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration late Friday granted exclusions from tariffs on smartphones, computers and some other electronic goods imported mostly from China. It was the latest in a series of announcements that imposed tariffs and then walked them back. The market was also supported by the news that China’s crude oil imports in March rebounded sharply from the previous two months. The oil market traded sideways and posted a high of $62.68 early in the morning. However, the market gave up its gains and sold off to a low of $60.59 as the market remained concerned over the impact of the tariffs on the global economy. The market’s gains were also limited by the continuing uncertainty over tariffs as President Trump said there were no tariff exemptions announced on Friday. The market later retraced some of its losses ahead of the close, with the May WTI contract settling up 3 cents at $61.53 and the June Brent contract settling up 12 cents at $64.88. The product markets ended the session, up 2.64 cents at $2.0917 and the RB market settling up 2.31 cents at $2.0222. According to a list of items published by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection late Friday, the United States excluded certain electronics like smartphones and computers from President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. The U.S. CBP listed some 20 products, also including semiconductor-based transducers, solid-state storage devices and flat panel displays. However, on Sunday, President Trump said “There was no tariff ‘exemption’ announced on Friday.” President Trump and his economic advisers stressed over the weekend that any reprieve would be temporary, with specific tariffs to be imposed on goods put under a new national security classification. White House economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, said U.S. and European Union negotiators have met numerous times and are making enormous progress, as EU negotiators were in Washington for talks on President Donald Trump’s tariffs. He also stated that the Trump administration is close to finalizing a trade deal with more than 10 countries. IIR Energy said U.S. oil refiners are expected to shut in about 1.46 million bpd of capacity in the week ending April 18th, increasing available refining capacity by 286,000 bpd. Offline capacity is expected to fall to 940,000 bpd in the week ending April 25th. The Keystone oil pipeline, with a capacity to carry 600,000 bpd of oil from Alberta, Canada to the U.S., is expected to resume service by Tuesday, April 15th. OPEC cut its 2025 global oil demand growth forecast for the first time since December, citing the impact of data received for the first quarter and trade tariffs announced by the U.S. In a monthly report, OPEC said world oil demand would increase by 1.30 million bpd in 2025 and by 1.28 million bpd in 2026. Both forecasts are down 150,000 bpd from last month’s forecast. In the report, OPEC lowered its world economic growth forecast this year to 3.0% from 3.1% and reduced next year’s to 3.1% from 3.2%. OPEC’s report also showed that crude production by the wider OPEC+ fell in March by 37,000 bpd to 41.02 million bpd due in part to reductions by Nigeria and Iraq.
Oil Steadies as Progress on Iran Talks Undercuts Tariff Reprieve - Oil held steady as traders weighed the latest US moves in the global trade war, as well as the prospect of looser restrictions on Iranian crude. West Texas Intermediate settled little changed near $61.50 a barrel, and Brent held below $65. While equities rallied after US President Donald Trump paused import duties on some electronics, fresh data revealing that American consumers see higher inflation in the year ahead weighed on oil futures. The US and Iran met on Saturday for nuclear talks that both sides described as constructive, raising the possibility of higher oil volumes from the OPEC member. Weekend talks in Oman marked the first top-level engagement since 2022 and signaled a renewed effort to resolve a years-long standoff over the country’s nuclear program. Both sides agreed to meet again. On the demand side, traders are grappling with a rapidly evolving outlook. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries slashed its projections for annual consumption growth by about 100,000 barrels a day, following a larger cut by the US Energy Information Administration. More banks also reduced their price forecasts, with JPMorgan Chase & Co. now seeing Brent at $66 this year. Crude has been dragged down in April as the trade war — especially the confrontation between the US and China — stokes fears of a global recession that would hurt energy demand. A surprise OPEC+ decision to bring back shuttered output more quickly than expected has added to the bearishness. “While the market has already priced in some future inventory builds, we expect large surpluses,” Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts including Daan Struyven said in a note, estimating a glut of 800,000 barrels a day this year. Brent is expected to average $63 over the rest of 2025, they said. Oil’s losses this month have formed part of an intense global market reaction to the evolving trade war, with most commodities and equities selling off. Investors pulling out of crude and fuel markets triggered a $2 billion net outflow in the week ending April 11, JPMorgan Chase & Co. analyst Tracey Allen wrote in a note to clients. There have also been unusual declines in the US dollar and Treasuries, assets that typically function as havens during periods of stress. WTI for May delivery gained 3 cents to settle at $61.53 a barrel in New York. Brent for June settlement edged up 12 cents to settle at $64.88 a barrel.
Oil Prices Rise, Supported by New Tariff Exemptions... Oil prices rose in early Asian trading on Tuesday, supported by new tariff exemptions announced by U.S. President Donald Trump and a rebound in Chinese crude oil imports. According to Bloomberg economic news agency, Brent crude futures rose by 27 cents, or 0.42%, to reach $65.15 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased by 26 cents, also 0.42%, to reach $61.79 per barrel.
Oil prices dip after IEA cuts demand outlook -Oil prices inched down on Tuesday after the International Energy Agency followed OPEC in slashing its oil demand forecast, though price falls were limited by U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion of some new tariff exemptions.Brent crude futures fell 21 cents, or 0.32%, to close at $64.67 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 20 cents, or 0.33%, to settle at $61.33 a barrel. Vacillating U.S. trade policies have created uncertainty for global oil markets and prompted OPEC on Monday to lower its demand outlook.The IEA also cut its forecasts on Tuesday for global oil demand growth to 730,000 barrels per day (bpd) this year from 1.03 million bpd - and to 690,000 bpd next year, citing escalating trade tensions.Meanwhile, Swiss bank UBS cut its price forecast for Brent by $12 a barrel to $68 a barrel on Tuesday."Should the trade war further escalate, our downside risk scenario case — i.e., a deeper U.S. recession and a hard landing in China — could see Brent trading at $40-60/bbl over the coming months," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.BNP Paribas lowered its average price expectation for this year and next to $58 a barrel from $65.In comments that helped to support prices, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Friday the United States could stop Iranian oil exports as part of Trump's plan to pressure Tehran over its nuclear programme.Data on Monday showed that China's crude oil imports in March were up nearly 5% from a year earlier as arrivals of Iranian oil surged. Risk assets such as equities and oil also got some support after Trump said he was considering a modification to the 25% tariffs imposed on foreign auto imports from Mexico and other places.
Oil prices slip as IEA cuts demand forecast - Oil prices dipped during Wednesday's Asian session, with investors weighing the escalating United States-China tariff dispute and its potential drag on economic growth and global energy demand. By 3:30 pm AEST (5:30 am GMT), Brent crude futures slipped by $0.29, or 0.5%, to $64.38 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declined by $0.31, also 0.5%, to $60.44 per barrel.The drop in oil prices followed the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest outlook, which slashed its global demand growth forecast for 2025. The agency now expects demand to rise by only 730,000 barrels per day - its slowest pace in five years - citing trade tensions and a weakening macroeconomic backdrop. The IEA attributed the lower demand forecast to slowing economic activity, particularly in the U.S. and China, which are at the centre of the ongoing trade war. “A growing sense of a global economic downturn is also weighing on sentiment,” noted ANZ analysts. “The IEA also expects consumption growth to be even slower in 2026 at 690kb/d due to a fragile macroeconomic environment. It also said the rising use of EVs is impacting demand. "This comes after the Energy Information Administration and OPEC both reduced their forecasts for demand this year.”Rising supply from OPEC+, which includes Russia and other allied producers, is also contributing to the bearish sentiment in oil markets. Meanwhile, weekly inventory data added further complexity. According to the American Petroleum Institute, U.S. crude oil stocks rose by 2.4 million barrels in the week ended April 11, well above market expectations of a 1.68 million barrel draw.
WTI Extends Gains As Cushing Hub Stocks Hit Lowest For Time Of Year Since 2008 -Oil prices are higher this morning on the prospect of US-China trade talks (and after better than expected China macro data last night and an implicit suggestion that Beijing will do 'whatever it takes' to maintain the illusion of 5% growth). Prices shrugged off the surprise build in crude stocks reported by API last night.Elsewhere, Iran said it won’t be drawn into negotiations with the US over its ability to enrich uranium, reducing the potential of looser restrictions on Iranian crude.“A bit of risk-on followed” the news of China’s openness to talks, said Ole Hansen, head of commodities strategy at Saxo Bank. “Overall, the market seems to be settling into a bit of a wait-and-see mode.”Will the official data have any more bearing on sentiment than the API build? API:
- Crude +2.40mm (-1.68mm exp)
- Cushing -349k
- Gasoline -3.0mm
- Distillates -3.2mm
DOE:
- Crude +515k (-1.68mm exp)
- Cushing -654k
- Gasoline -1.96mm
- Distillates -1.85mm
Crude stocks rose for the 3rd straight week (but only adding 515k barrels - a lot less than the 2.4mm build reported by API) while Gasoline stocks fell for the 7th straight week... Graphics Source: Bloomberg. Even with the 299k barrels addition to the SPR, this was a small crude build...Total gasoline stocks are at their lowest since Dec 2024...Stocks at the all important Cushing Hub fell to their lowest for this time of year since 2008...
Crude Oil Gains 2% on Hopes of Tariff War Truce -Crude oil edged more than 2% higher on Wednesday, driven primarily by hopes that tensions will ease in the U.S.-China trade conflict and U.S. inventory data. At 1:28 p.m. ET, Brent crude was trading up 2.09% at $66.02, while the U.S. benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), was trading up 2.12% at $62.63.A weaker U.S. dollar, bullish inventory data, and renewed hopes for easing U.S.-China trade tensions are all boosting crude today, particularly following a Bloomberg report suggesting China may be open to trade talks—pending specific actions from the Trump administration. China reportedly expects the U.S. to moderate critical rhetoric from cabinet members as a precondition for negotiations.Energy markets also responded to today’s bullish U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) inventory report, which showed an increase of 500,000 barrels during the week ending April 11.Crude oil prices were trading up prior to the crude data release by the U.S. Energy Information Administration after a sharp dip over the last couple of weeks in the wake of the tariff war that has analysts worrying about recession. Also on Wednesday, the EIA said in itsAnnual Energy Outlook 2025 that U.S. crude oil production was set to peak at around 14 million barrels per day in 2027, where it will remain until the early 2030s, after which point it will decline faster through 2050. Despite bullish inventory and mere hopes that the trade war will not escalate, global economic concerns look set to put significant limitations on how far crude could climb in this climate. The World Trade Organization (WTO) slashed its 2025 global trade growth forecast from +3.0% to -0.2%, citing escalating tariff risks. If the U.S. proceeds with reciprocal tariffs, global trade could shrink by as much as -1.5%, raising fears of reduced energy demand.
News of Further Sanctions Targeting Iran's Oil Exports - The crude market on Wednesday posted an outside trading day as the market weighed the impact of the U.S.-China trade war against the possibility of a de-escalation, reports of OPEC+ countries updating their output compensation plans and the news of further sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports. The market was pressured in overnight trading and posted a low of $60.44 after the IEA on Tuesday said global oil demand this year is expected to grow at its slowest level in five years. However, the market reversed course and rallied higher to a high of $62.71 on the possibility of trade talks between China and the U.S., amid reports that China wants more respect from the Trump administration before it can agree to talks. The market was further supported on reports that OPEC+ members pledged to make further oil output cuts to compensate for producing over their agreed quotas as well on the news that the U.S. imposed sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports, including against a China-based “teapot refinery”. Most of the market’s move higher was ahead of the release of the EIA’s weekly petroleum stocks report, which showed a small build of 515,000 barrels in crude stocks. The crude market posted a high of $62.84 before it erased some of its gains and settled in a sideways trading range during the remainder of the session. The May WTI contract ended the session up $1.14 at $62.47 and rallied higher in the post settlement period to a new high of $62.98. The June Brent contract ended the day up $1.18 at $65.85. The product markets ended higher, with the heating oil market settling up 3.7 cents at $2.1154 and the RB market settling up 19 points at $2.0434. The United States issued new sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports, including against a China-based “teapot refinery”. The Treasury said it imposed sanctions on a China-based independent “teapot” refinery it accused of playing a role in purchasing more than $1 billion worth of Iranian crude oil. The U.S. Treasury Department, the United States also imposed new sanctions targeting shipping companies under its Iran-related sanctions program.OPEC has received updated oil output compensation plans from seven countries that have exceeded voluntary production quotas within the OPEC+ group. The OPEC secretariat said Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan and Oman will cut production by 222,000 bpd in April, 378,000 bpd in May and 431,000 bpd in June. Monthly cuts would then range between 196,000 bpd and 501,000 bpd over the following 12 months, ending in June 2026. This is up from between 189,000 bpd and 435,000 bpd previously. Iraq and Kazakhstan are planning the largest cuts at 1.934 million bpd and 1.299 million bpd cumulatively. The UAE, which has also overproduced in recent months, will compensate by just 386,000 bpd cumulatively through June 2026 after agreeing to a 300,000 bpd production baseline increase in April. OPEC+ data shows that the total backlog of overdue compensation cuts has increased by almost 9% to about 139 million barrels.South Bow restarted the Keystone pipeline system at a reduced operating pressure after approval from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The Keystone pipeline was shut down last week after an oil spill near Fort Ransom, North Dakota.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted Enbridge’s proposed tunnel for its Line 5 pipeline national energy emergency status, fast-tracking a key federal permitting process.
Global Oil Prices Continue to Rise Amid Supply Cut Expectation -Oil prices continued their upward trend on Thursday, supported by expectations of tighter supplies as some OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) members pledged deeper production cuts to offset previous overproduction beyond agreed quotas. According to the economic news agency Bloomberg, Brent crude futures rose by 34 cents to reach $66.19 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased by 44 cents to reach $62.91 per barrel. Supply concerns intensified after OPEC announced on Wednesday that it had received updated plans from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other countries to implement further production cuts to compensate for previously exceeding their quotas.
Oil prices climb to two-week highs on fresh Iran sanctions - Oil prices rose Thursday, heading for weekly gains on supply disruption concerns after the U.S. imposed new sanctions on Iran’s oil exports. At 09:00 ET (13:00 GMT), Brent Oil Futures expiring in June rose 1.3% to $66.69 per barrel, whileWest Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 1.5% to $63.40 per barrel.Both contracts are on track for their first weekly rise in three, hitting two-week highs after a recent decline in prices. Thursday is the last settlement day of the week ahead of the Easter holidays.President Donald Trump’s administration has escalated its sanctions against Iran’s oil sector by targeting Chinese entities, including a "teapot" refinery in Shandong province.A "teapot refinery" is an industry nickname for small, independent oil refineries, primarily found in China.These measures are part of Trump’s renewed "maximum pressure" campaign aimed at reducing Iran’s oil exports to zero and curbing its nuclear ambitions. The sanctions also target several companies and vessels facilitating Iranian oil transport through a so-called "shadow fleet."The U.S. actions coincide with ongoing nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, with recent talks held in Oman and upcoming discussions scheduled for Rome.Additionally, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said on Wednesday it had received updated plans for Iraq, Kazakhstan and other countries to make further output cuts to compensate for pumping above quotas.Meanwhile, sentiment improved earlier Wednesday after Bloomberg reported that China is open to restarting trade talks with the Trump administration, but is seeking more respect from Washington, while talks between Japan and the U.S. were seen proceeding smoothly. The U.S. Energy Information Administration on Wednesday reported that crude oil inventories increased by 515,000 barrels for the week ending April 11, bringing total stockpiles to 442.9 million barrels. This marked the third consecutive weekly build, slightly exceeding analysts’ expectations of a 507,000-barrel rise.In contrast, gasoline inventories declined by 2 million barrels to 234 million barrels, while distillate stockpiles, including diesel and heating oil, fell by 1.9 million barrels to 109.2 million barrels—the lowest since November 2023. While the increase in crude stockpiles signals a potential buildup in supply, stronger-than-expected draws in gasoline and distillate inventories point to resilient demand for refined products.
Oil posts weekly gain on trade deal hopes, new Iran sanctions (Reuters) - Oil prices settled more than 3% higher on Thursday, supported by hopes for a trade deal between the United States and the European Union and new U.S. sanctions to curb Iranian oil exports, which continued to elevate supply concerns. Brent crude futures settled $2.11, or 3.2%, higher to $67.96 a barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained $2.21, or 3.54%, at $64.68 a barrel.For the week, both Brent and WTI gained about 5%, their first weekly gain in three weeks. Thursday is the last settlement day of the week ahead of the Easter holidays and trade volumes were thin.U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met in Washington and expressed optimism about resolving trade tensions that have strained U.S.-European relations."We're going to have very little problem making a deal with Europe or anybody else, because we have something that everybody wants," Trump said.Reaching a trade deal with the EU could potentially limit oil demand destruction from Trump's tariffs, Sanctions issued by Trump's administration on Wednesday, including against a China-based "teapot" oil refinery, ramp up pressure on Tehran amid talks on the country's nuclear programme. "Teapot" is an industry term for small, independent and simple oil refiners. "These are far-ranging sanctions, focusing on the Chinese teapot refineries," . "It's a potential supply loss to the market."Washington also issued additional sanctions on several companies and vessels it said were responsible for facilitating Iranian oil shipments to China as part of Iran's shadow fleet."The U.S. continues to aggressively sanction Iran and impose sanctions against buyers of Iranian oil. OPEC+ has also provided updates and reassurance to the market, stating that they remain in control with flexibility to cut production if needed," analysts at energy consulting firm Gelber and Associates said in a note.The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said on Wednesday it had received updated plans for Iraq, Kazakhstan and other countries to make further output cuts to compensate for pumping above quotas.However, OPEC, the International Energy Agency and several banks, including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, cut forecasts on oil prices and demand growth this week as U.S. tariffs and retaliation from other countries threw global trade into disarray.
U.S. Strike on Yemen Oil Port Kills 58, Houthis Say -At least 58 people were killed in U.S. air strikes on a fuel port in Yemen, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV said on Friday, in what could be the deadliest U.S. attack in Yemen since U.S. President Donald Trump ordered strikes on targets of the Iran-aligned rebels a month ago. In the middle of March, the U.S. began air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, with the U.S. Department of Defense stating the attacks would continue until the Houthis stop attacking ships traversing the Red Sea. The U.S. Central Command said on Thursday about the attack that “The Iran-backed Houthis use fuel to sustain their military operations, as a weapon of control, and to benefit economically from embezzling the profits from the import.” “This fuel should be legitimately supplied to the people of Yemen. Despite the Foreign Terrorist Designation that went into effect on 05 April, ships have continued to supply fuel via the port of Ras Isa. Profits from these illegal sales are directly funding and sustaining Houthi terrorist efforts.” The Central Command also noted that “US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years.” The U.S. military said that the objective of the latest strikes was to reduce the economic source of power of the Houthis. “This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully.” “The Houthis, their Iranian masters, and those who knowingly aid and abet their terrorist actions should be put on notice that the world will not accept illicit smuggling of fuel and war material to a terrorist organization,” the Central Command said. The Houthis responded in a statement that “We affirm that the targeting of the Ras Isa oil port is a full-fledged war crime, as the port is a civilian facility and not a military one.”
Saudi Defense Minister Visits Iran, Meets With Khamenei - -Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman arrived in Iran on Thursday, marking the highest-level Saudi visit to the country in decades.Prince Khalid’s visit comes about two years after Riyadh and Tehran normalized relations under a China-brokered deal in 2023. The visit signals that Saudi Arabia supports the negotiations between the US and Iran and opposes a potential US-Israeli attack on Iran.While in Tehran, Prince Khalid met with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and delivered a letter from his father, King Salman bin Abdulaziz. “We believe that relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia will be beneficial for both countries, and that the two nations can complement each other,” Khamenei said during the meeting, according to his website.Khamenei said the improving relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have faced opposition from “enemies” in the region. “We must overcome these hostile motives, and we are prepared in this regard,” he said. “It is far better for brothers in the region to cooperate with and assist each other than to depend on others.”
Saudi Arabia To Pay Off Syria's World Bank Debt --Saudi Arabia is planning to pay off the debts owed by Syria to the World Bank, according to three sources cited by Reuters on Monday. "Saudi Arabia plans to pay off Syria's debts to the World Bank … paving the way for the approval of millions of dollars in grants for reconstruction and to support the country's paralyzed public sector," the sources said. "Damascus is short of foreign currency and a previous plan to pay off the debts using assets frozen abroad did not materialize … World Bank officials have discussed providing financing to help reconstruct the country's power grid, heavily damaged by years of war, and also to support public sector pay," they added. A Saudi Finance Ministry source told the outlet that "We do not comment on speculation, but make announcements, if and when they become official."Reuters had reported over the weekend that Syria will be sending a delegation to the US for the annual World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings in Washington later in April. The extremist-led Syrian administration of Ahmad al-Sharaa, which assumed power after the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad’s government, has been hoping to secure some relief from the heavy sanctions imposed on Damascus over the years. The UK and a number of EU countries have lifted some of their sanctions on Syria, and Washington provided a six-month exemption from some sanctions in January. The US has also given Syria a list of demands that it wants the Syrian government to fulfill in exchange for partial relief from sanctions, reports said late last month.These include the destruction of any chemical weapons, cooperation on "counter-terrorism," and ensuring foreign fighters are not granted top positions. Several militants who fought with Al-Qaeda and ISIS-linked organizations against the former government have been incorporated into the army and given posts of command. Syrian government forces killed over 1,500 Alawites in a series of bloody sectarian massacres early last month. Tens of thousands have been displaced and have fled to Lebanon.
Israel Bombs Christian-Run Hospital in Gaza City on Palm Sunday - Early Sunday morning, the Israeli military bombed the al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, putting the medical facility out of service.According to Middle East Eye, Gaza’s Civil Defense said the bombing caused “the destruction of the surgery building and the oxygen generation station for the intensive care units.” The strike damaged other buildings, includingthe adjoining St. Phillip’s Church.The Civil Defense said the strike hit the hospital “minutes” after the Israeli military ordered the hospital to be evacuated. Eyewitnesses told MEE that they only had 18 minutes to leave the hospital. At least three patients, including a child with head injuries, died as a result of the forced evacuation. The Israeli military took credit for the attack and claimed it targeted a Hamas “command and control center” but offered no evidence.The attack on the hospital, which was founded in 1882, comes amid severe shortages of medical supplies due to the total Israeli blockade on all goods entering Gaza, which has been imposed since March 2. Hospitals have been overwhelmed since Israel fully restarted its genocidal war on March 18.The Baptist Hospital is managed by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which strongly condemned the attack and noted that it occurred on Palm Sunday, the start of the Christian Holy Week that ends on Easter Sunday.
Israeli Defense Minister Says No Humanitarian Aid Will Enter Gaza, Vows Indefinite Occupation - On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that no humanitarian aid will enter Gaza and vowed that the IDF will occupy the territory it has captured in Gaza indefinitely.Since March 2, Israel has imposed a total blockade on aid and all other goods entering Gaza, which constitutes collective punishment of the entire civilian population. Katz said that the blockade was one of Israel’s main “pressure tools” against Hamas.“Israel’s policy is clear: no humanitarian aid will be allowed into Gaza, and preventing humanitarian aid to Gaza is one of the central pressure tools that stops Hamas from using this means against the population,” Katz said in a post on X.“No one, under the current reality, is going to allow any humanitarian aid into Gaza, and no preparations are being made to allow any aid of this kind,” Katz added.Katz’s comments were meant to clarify an earlier statement where he suggested Israel could allow the distribution of aid “through civilian companies.” In that statement, he also said IDF troops would not leave the territory they’ve captured since Israel restarted its genocidal war on March 18.“The IDF will remain in the security zones as a buffer between the enemy and the communities in any temporary or permanent reality in Gaza—similar to Lebanon and Syria,” Katz said. “To date, hundreds of thousands of residents have been evacuated, and dozens of percent of the territory have been incorporated into the security zones.”He added that “in parallel” to the Israeli occupation of territory in Gaza, the “plan for the voluntary relocation of Gaza residents is being advanced,” referring to the goal of ethnic cleansing.
Israeli Bombs Multiple Tent Camps in Gaza, Killing Dozens - Overnight Israeli strikes on Gaza hit multiple tent camps sheltering displaced Palestinians, killing dozens, Gaza’s Civil Defense agency has said.One attack hit tents in al-Mawasi, a tent camp in southern Gaza that Israel had declared a so-called “humanitarian zone” but continues to bomb.“At least 16 martyrs [were killed], most of them women and children, and 23 others were wounded following a direct strike by two Israeli missiles on several tents housing displaced families in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis,” Mahmoud Bassal, spokesman for the Civil Defense, told AFP.Another seven Palestinians were killed by an Israeli strike on tents in Beit Lahia, a city in northern Gaza that was the scene of large anti-Hamas protests on Wednesday. Two other Palestinians, a father and his son, were killed by an Israeli strike on another part of al-Mawasi. So far, there’s been no comment from the Israeli military about the attacks.Gaza’s Health Ministry said on Thursday that at least 39 Palestinians were killed, and one body was recovered from the rubble over the previous 24-hour period. Another 73 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli attacks.The Health Ministry’s numbers account for dead and wounded Palestinians brought to hospitals and morgues. “There are still a number of victims under the rubble and on the streets, and ambulance and civil defense crews cannot reach them,” the ministry said.
"I Want A Death That The World Will Hear" — Journalist Assassinated By Israel For Telling The Truth - Caitlin Johnstone - - Israel assassinated a photojournalist in Gaza in an airstrike targeting her family’s home on Wednesday, the day after it was announced that a documentary she appears in would premier in Cannes next month. Her name was Fatima Hassouna. Nine members of her family were also reportedly killed in the bombing. She was going to get married in a few days. The documentary is titled Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, and it’s about Israel’s crimes in Gaza. In an Instagram post from August of last year, Hassouna wrote the following:“If I die, I want a loud death. I don’t want to be just breaking news, or a number in a group; I want a death that the world will hear, an impact that will remain through time, and a timeless image that cannot be buried by time or place.” Hassouna said she viewed her camera as a weapon to change the world and defend her family, making the following statements in a video shared by Middle East Eye: “As Fatima, I believe that the image and the camera are weapons. So I consider my camera to be my rifle. So many times, in so many situations, I tell my friends, Come and see, it’s not bullets that we load into a rifle. Okay, I’m going to put a memory card into the camera. This is the camera’s bullet, the memory card. It changes the world and defends me. It shows the world what is happening to me and what’s happening to others. So I used to consider this my weapon, that I defend myself with it. And so that my family won’t be forgotten. And so I can document people’s stories, so that my family’s stories too don’t just vanish into thin air.” Israel saw Hassouna’s camera as a weapon too, apparently. As Ryan Grim observed on Twitter:“For this to have been a deliberate act — which it plainly was — consider what that means. A person within the IDF saw the news that Fatma’s film was accepted into Cannes. He/she/they then proposed assassinating her. Other people reviewed the suggestion and approved it. Then other people carried it out.” Israel has been murdering a record-shattering number of journalists in Gaza while simultaneously blocking any foreign press from accessing the enclave because Israel views journalists as its enemy. And Israel views journalists as its enemy because Israel is the enemy of truth. That’s why the light of journalism is being aggressively snuffed out in Gaza while Israel massively increases its propaganda budget to sway public opinion. It’s why journalists like Fatima Hassouna are being assassinated while the western propaganda services known as the mainstream press commit journalistic malpractice to hide the truth of Israel’s crimes. It’s why western journalists are banned from Gaza while western institutions are silencing, deporting, firing and marginalizing those who speak out about Israel’s criminality. Israel and truth cannot coexist. Israel’s enemies know this, and Israel knows this. That’s why Israel’s primary weapons are bombs, bullets, propaganda, censorship, and obstruction, while the main weapon of Israel’s enemies is the camera. Fatima Hassouna’s death has indeed been heard. All these loud noises are snapping more and more eyes open from their slumber.
Israel demolishes statue of Christian saint in southern Lebanon on Palm Sunday – The Israeli occupation army demolished a statue of Saint George in the town of Yaroun, in the Nabatieh Governorate in southern Lebanon, as Christians marked Palm Sunday, according to Lebanese media. The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) shared a video showing an Israeli military bulldozer demolishing the statue in violation of the ceasefire agreement and religious rights. The Israeli attack comes as Christians marked Palm Sunday, the seventh Sunday of Lent and the last Sunday before Good Friday, which is followed by the commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ. This day commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, where he was greeted by people with palm and olive branches.
Israeli Ground Troops Pushed Deeper Into Southern Lebanon, Continue Attacks - Though the November 26 ceasefire was meant to end the Israeli invasion and occupation of Lebanese territory, Israeli troops never completely left. On Monday, they expanded that occupation once again, pushing deeper into the Marjayoun District.Israeli troops and civilian administrators advanced along the river near the village of Wazzani. They also reportedly advanced further west and opened fire on people on the outskirts of Ayta ash-Shaab, and conducted “search operations” in the area.Details are still emerging on what they’re doing and why, but the most significant part of this further invasion of Lebanese territory is that Israel has not publicly commented on the matter at all, not even offering the sorts of flimsy pretexts they generally give for violations of the ceasefire.This is just another of well over 1,400 ceasefire violations which Lebanon has reported to the enforcement body, which is run by the United States and France. France has criticized Israel for violations at times, while the US has simply pressured Lebanon to make even further concessions and vowed to block international reconstruction aid until Israel is satisfied.Besides the new advancement of ground troops, Israeli forces have continued to carry out airstrikes on a near daily basis. On Sunday they launched a drone strike against the outskirts of the town Yohmor.The incident that’s most likely to fuel international condemnation, though, came in Yaroun, in the Nabatieh Governorate. Also on Sunday, which was the Christian holiday of Palm Sunday, Israeli military forces entered the area with military bulldozers and demolished a statue of Saint George, a Christian saint. The statue incident has been widely criticized in the Christian world because of the timing, and amounted to not just another violation of the ceasefire, but a violation of religious rights of the Lebanese Christian community.Saint George is considered the patron saint of England, along with Ukraine, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Georgia and Ethiopia. He is also considered the patron saint of the Lebanese capital city of Beirut. A third century soldier in the Roman Army, he was executed for refusing to recant his Christian faith, and is thus considered a martyr. It is held that he is buried in Lod, a city near Tel Aviv in central Israel.
Lebanon Information Minister: Over 2,700 Israeli Ceasefire Violations Reported -Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos revealed on Thursday that his country has documented over 2,700 ceasefire violations committed by Israel since the ceasefire went into effect on November 26.The ceasefire was meant to end the Israeli invasion and occupation of southern Lebanon, but Israeli ground troops have remained in post on Lebanese soil and they continue to carry out daily attacks against Lebanon, both of which violate the letter and spirit of the ceasefire. The constant Israeli attacks during the ceasefire have resulted in at least 190 deaths and 485 injuries. Morcos also noted that the ceasefire terms, which include Lebanese Army forces moving into the southern part of the country, have been hindered because of the continued presence of Israeli forces there, and constant drone strikes. The Israeli attacks show no sign of slowing down, and more airstrikes were reported overnight and into early Thursday. At night, Israel carried out multiple attacks against southern Lebanon, claiming it was targeting “Hezbollah infrastructure.”
Up to 400,000 displaced from Darfur camp after Sudan RSF takeover, UN agency says (Reuters) - Between 60,000 and 80,000 households - or up to 400,000 people, - have been displaced from Sudan's Zamzam camp in North Darfur after it was taken over by the Rapid Support Forces, according to data from the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration. The RSF seized control of the camp on Sunday after a four-day assault that the government and aid groups have said left hundreds dead or wounded. The United Nations said on Monday that preliminary figures from local sources show more than 300 civilians were killed in fighting on Friday and Saturday around the Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps and the town of al-Fashir in North Darfur. This includes 10 humanitarian personnel from Relief International, who were killed while operating one of the last functioning health centres in Zamzam camp, said a U.N. spokesperson. Rights groups have long warned of possible atrocities should the RSF succeed in its months-long siege of the famine-stricken camp, neighbour to the army's only remaining stronghold in the Darfur region, al-Fashir. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showed burning buildings and smoke in Zamzam on Friday, echoing prior RSF attacks. The RSF has dismissed such allegations, and says the Zamzam camp was being used as a base for army-aligned groups. At the start of the war, the camp was home to about half a million people, a number that is thought to have doubled. In a video shared by the paramilitary force, RSF second in command Abdelrahim Dagalo is seen speaking to a small group of displaced people, promising them food, water, medical care and a return to their homes. The RSF accelerated its assault on the camp after the army regained control of the capital Khartoum, cementing its retaking of the center of the country. It has also accelerated drone attacks into army-controlled territory, including an attack on the Atbara power station in the north of the country on Monday according to the national electricity company, cutting off power to the wartime capital of Port Sudan. The war in Sudan erupted in April 2023, sparked by a power struggle between the army and the RSF, shattering hopes for a transition to civilian rule. The conflict has since displaced millions and devastated wide swathes of the country, spreading famine in several locations.
"It Doesn't Fit In With Dutch Culture!" - Conservative MPs Call For Ban On Amplified Islamic Calls To Prayer Two minor conservative parties in the Netherlands, the SGP and JA21, have tabled a private members’ bill aiming to ban amplified Islamic calls to prayer in residential areas, arguing that the practice is increasingly at odds with Dutch cultural norms. The proposed legislation, submitted by SGP MP André Flach and JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans, targets the growing use of loudspeakers in mosques to broadcast the adhan — the Islamic call to prayer — across neighborhoods. While amplified calls were rare until the 1990s, the MPs claim they are now heard in dozens of communities nationwide, “from Amsterdam to Alblasserdam.” “It doesn’t fit in with Dutch culture,” Flach said, as cited by De Telegraaf newspaper. He noted that current broadcasts loudly proclaim religious texts such as “Allah is the greatest” and “there is no other god but Allah” several times a day. He argued that when laws were changed in 1988 to allow amplified religious calls under the Public Manifestations Act, lawmakers did not anticipate how pervasive and loud such calls might become. Eerdmans expressed equal concern over the trend, pointing to what he sees as a steady increase in Islamic practice seeping into the Dutch way of life. “Today, around 40 mosques play the adhan on Fridays, but with about 500 mosques in the Netherlands and that number growing, how many will there be in 10 years?” In some neighborhoods, “you really feel like you’re in Istanbul or Marrakesh,” he added.
SOAS student charged under counter-terror laws for protesting Gaza genocide appears at Old Bailey- Around 100 people rallied outside London’s Central Criminal Court on Friday for the preliminary hearing of a student charged under the Terrorism Act (2000) for speech opposing Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Sarah, a student at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, was arrested in a dawn raid on her home by London’s Metropolitan Police in January 2024 after a speech she made on campus in October 2023 for the Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (FRFI) student society, supporting the Palestinian right to self-determination. Sarah was charged under the Starmer Labour government more than one year later, on March 5, 2025, with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) wielding Section 12 of the Terrorism Act, for allegedly inviting support for a proscribed organisation. UK Lawyers for Israel, a Zionist group, lobbied for the charges to be laid. In October 2023, Zionists tagged the Met police in a video of Sarah’s speech in which she defended Palestinians’ right to resist the illegal occupation, blockade, and military bombardment by Israel of Gaza. If convicted, she faces up to 14 years in prison. A second SOAS student was arrested on March 5 under the same counter-terror laws. The SOAS 2 are being targeted as part of an escalating crackdown on the right to protest. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is pressing into service anti-terror laws introduced by successive Labour and Tory governments aimed at criminalising protest and free speech, this time in defence of the Palestinian people. Friday’s protest was called by the Revolutionary Communist Group (RCG) and its student group FRFI. It was joined by organisations including the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network UK. Members of the Socialist Equality Party took part, distributing a statement issued by the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, “Oppose Starmer’s campus crackdown on Gaza genocide protest!” Throughout the morning, while Sarah’s case was heard, chants and speeches rang loudly outside the court: “Labour Party shame, shame! All the crimes in your name!”, “From the belly of the beast: Hands off the Middle East!” and “While Palestine is occupied: Resistance is justified!” Delivery trucks and other work vans tooted in support, underscoring widespread popular opposition to the Gaza genocide and against the criminalisation of dissent. Inside the Old Bailey, Sarah was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to two counts of inviting support for a proscribed organisation, Hamas. Specifically, for having expressed “an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation” and being “reckless as to whether a person to whom the expression is directed will be encouraged to support a proscribed organisation”.
UK Supreme Court Rules A Trans-Woman Is Not A Woman -The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom has unanimously ruled that the terms "women" and "sex" refer to a biological woman and biological sex. On Wednesday, the court concluded that someone with a Gender Reassignment Card in the female gender does not fall within the definition of a woman under the Equality Act of 2010 - which legally protects people in British society from discrimination. BREAKING: It's the "unanimous decision" of this court that the terms "woman" and "sex" refer to a biological woman and biological sex in the Equality Act 2010, Lord Hodge says in the Supreme Court A Scottish advocacy group, 'For Women Scotland' had sued the Scottish government which had argued in court that trans people with a Gender Reassignment Card are entitled to same sex protections as biological women. In 2018, Scottish Parliament concluded that the definition of a woman includes people "with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment" under the Gender Representation on Public Boards Act, and that people "living as a woman" and those "proposing to undergo, undergoing, who have undergone a gender reassignment process," were included. Women Scotland, meanwhile - whose website states "that there are only two sexes, that a person's sex is not a choice, nor can it be changed," took the case to Britain's Supreme Court in order to obtain a concrete interpretation of the 2010 Equality Act, which would apply across the entire UK.
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